Article Photos

MOUNDSVILLE - Local health officials say they are scheduling swine flu vaccination clinics as quickly as possible, but that's not enough to allay some parents' fears.

The vaccine, meant to ward off the H1N1 virus, is being produced at a slower pace than many expected. And health departments can't schedule the clinics until they have the vaccine in hand. Parents have been calling health departments asking when a clinic will occur at their child's school. This week, an undetermined number of parents pulled their children out of Triadelphia Middle School in Ohio County because of swine flu concerns.

In Monroe County, Ohio, health department Administrator Linda Masters said she was supposed to receive a new batch of the vaccine Wednesday for student inoculations. As of that afternoon, it had yet to arrive. The department currently is using its nasal form of the vaccine to inoculate direct health care workers.

"We have been getting a lot of calls. We're looking for it every day," Masters said of the vaccine. "The state is under the thumb, too. We hope we receive it today. We don't know how many doses (we will receive) - it makes it hard to plan."

Masters said when she receives the next batch and determines the number of doses, she will release the date of the first student clinic for the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District. In the meantime, she noted, adults and children must continue to wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs. Three cases of the disease were confirmed Tuesday in school-aged children in Monroe County, she said.

Marshall County Health Department Administrator Ronda Francis also has been receiving calls from concerned parents. She said a swine flu inoculation clinic for John Marshall High School students in Glen Dale is slated noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the high school's North Commons. Use the back doors.

She noted 700 doses are available for the high school clinic. And though 1,300 students attend JMHS, Francis believes officials will have enough vaccine, based on the number of students who arrived for a clinic in Cameron.

"In Cameron last week, about a third of the student enrollment showed up for the clinic," she said. "If that stays true to form, we should see about 400 kids come through."

Because of JMHS's high absentee rate, Francis said they don't want to delay vaccinating students. She said on Wednesday, the high school absenteeism rate was 23 percent, or 299 students. She added that some are confused about proving guardian status during clinics.

"A parent doesn't need to bring a birth certificate. What we need is documentation if a guardian comes with that child," Francis said.

Guardians can either present paperwork from court, a notarized permission slip signed by the parent or paperwork from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources showing they are a foster parent. Students who are 18 years old do not need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, she added.

"We will get everybody covered. Every week we get more vaccine in, and every week we will be hitting a school or two or three - whatever the vaccine will allow us to cover for that week," Francis said, adding Marshall County's private and parochial schools will not be left out.

She noted pregnant women can now make appointments to receive the vaccine. Call 304-845-7840.

In Ohio County, a mass swine flu vaccination clinic for direct health care workers was held Monday and inoculated a total of 160 medics, nurses and doctors. Additional clinics for direct health care workers, and now also for pregnant women, are slated to begin Oct. 29 and be held every Monday and Thursday from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. at the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, 1500 Chapline St. To make an appointment, call 304-234-3682.

On Tuesday, Ohio County Schools Deputy Superintendent Dianna Vargo said parents should allow their children to attend class if they are not exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Students from Triadelphia, Steenrod Elementary and Woodsdale Elementary can receive the H1N1 vaccination between 3:30-10 p.m. Monday at Triadelphia Middle's gymnasium.

In Jefferson County, direct health care workers can get vaccinations from 5-8 p.m. today at Eastern Gateway Community College Jefferson County campus, and from 1-4 p.m. Friday at city of Steubenville Health Department.