Valpo students to get shots next week

VALPARAISO | H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics are set to begin at Valparaiso schools Monday, depending on the availability of vaccine doses.

Schools sent information letters and parental permission forms home with students this week. The school district requested return of the consent forms by today to judge vaccine needs for each clinic.

School day clinics are set to begin Monday at Central and Hayes Leonard elementary schools. Clinics for the district's nine other schools are planned slated to take place afterward. An after-school clinic, at which parents may be present with their children, is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at Valparaiso High School.

The inoculations will be in the form of a nasal mist or a shot depending on vaccine availability and children's particular needs.

The Porter County Health Department has identified those 6 months to 24 years old as a high priority group for inoculation against the swine flu.

Clinics at Duneland schools are expected to conclude next week, with Chesterton Middle School on Monday and Chesterton High School on Wednesday.

There is expected to be enough vaccine to hold the clinics, said Connie Rudd, head of nursing at the health department.

Rudd encouraged parents to learn about the vaccine by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at cdc.gov and the county health department site.

Community H1N1 vaccination clinics will be scheduled as vaccines become available,