Parents H1N1 Memo: no. 3

Transcription

1 Joliette High School and Joliette Elementary School Parents H1N1 Memo: no. 3 To: Parents of JOLIETTE HIGH and JOLIETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Date: November 25, 2009 Subject: Student H1N1 vaccination From: Anne Marie Lepage, Director General Dear parents, In the actual context of the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and the Ministère de l'éducation, du Loisir et du Sport have agreed to organize student transportation to the vaccination centres established in each region. PROCEDURES FOR JOLIETTE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Student vaccination will take place at Joliette High School on Tuesday, December 1. As per the law, parental consent is not required for a child aged 14 and over; however, is advisable that you have a discussion on the vaccine with your teenager given that we must inform the Centre de santé et des services sociaux Nord de Lanaudière by Friday morning of the number of students who intend to be vaccinated. For students aged of less than 14, please complete the form attached and indicate whether you agree or decline to the vaccination (Section D of the form) and return to the school by Friday, November 27 at the latest. You can consult the vaccination form that will be filled out by students aged 14 and over on our website. PROCEDURES FOR JOLIETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS Student transportation for the vaccination of students from Joliette Elementary School will take place on Thursday, December 3. Parental consent is required for all elementary students. The consent form must be returned to the school by Friday, November 27 at the latest seeing as we must inform the Centre de santé et des services sociaux Nord de Lanaudière by Friday morning of the number of students who intend to be vaccinated. Please complete the form attached and indicate whether you agree or decline to the vaccination (Section D of the form). Parents may not accompany their children on the bus or meet them at the vaccination centre. TO FACILITATE THE VACCINATION PROCESS, YOUR CHILD MUST: Wear a short sleeved top Have a snack which will be eaten prior to the vaccination Have their Medicare card Parents may always bring their child to their vaccination centre. (To consult the List of Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic Vaccination Centres please visit In order to help you make an informed decision, we invite you to consult the information brochure attached. Thank you for your collaboration. Sincerely, Anne Marie Lepage, Director General Encl.: Parental Consent Form and Information Brochure on the Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccine

2 INFLUENZA A(H1N1) VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN SCHOOLS SECTION A CHILD S IDENTIFICATION LAST NAME FIRST NAME M F GENDER / / / YEAR MONTH DAY HEALTH INSURANCE NUMBER YEAR MONTH DATE OF BIRTH EXPIRATION DATE ADDRESS POSTAL CODE FATHER S NAME PHONE WORK MOTHER S NAME PHONE - WORK TUTOR S NAME (IF APPLICABLE) PHONE - WORK SECTION B SCHOOL ATTENDED BY THE CHILD NAME OF SCHOOL : Page 1 of 2

3 SECTION C CHILD S MEDICAL AND VACCINATION HISTORY 1. Has your child ever had a reaction to a vaccine that was severe enough so that he or she had to see a doctor or go to the hospital? 2. Has your child ever had an allergic reaction to eating eggs that required immediate medical care? 3. Does your child have a coagulation disorder that requires regular medical care (e.g. reduced platelet count, hemorrhagic disorder) or the use of anticoagulants (e.g. coumadin, warfarin, warfilone, heparin)? 4. Does your child have an illness for which he/she must see a physician on a regular basis (examples : asthma, other lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, etc.)? 5. Does your child have an immune system disorder or weakened immune system due to illness (example : leukemia) or medication (example : chemotherapy)? If your child has one of these conditions, a second dose of vaccine may be necessary. Please discuss this with your child s doctor. SECTION D PARENTAL or TUTOR S CONSENT (DECISIONS) As the parent or tutor of a child aged less than 14 years, you are responsible for making all decisions regarding the child s vaccination. A child aged 14 and over can consent by him or herself to vaccination. Consent implies that this vaccination will be recorded in the provincial vaccination registry. The enclosed fact sheet will provide you with information to help you make an informed decision. For additional information about this vaccine, please call the Info-Santé hotline (8-1-1) or consult pandemiequebec.qc.ca. Indicate whether you agree or decline to have your child vaccinated against the influenza A (H1N1) virus. This consent or refusal must be checked by the child aged 14 and over. I AGREE to have my child vaccinated against the influenza A (H1N1) virus and to have the child transported to the vaccination center by the school transportation. I DECLINE to have my child vaccinated against the influenza A (H1N1) virus. My child has already been vaccinated against the influenza A (H1N1) virus. X / / Signature of the child s mother, father or tutor or by the child aged 14 and over YEAR MONTH DAY (Please sign with a pen) Name in block letters : Page 2 of 2

4 October 2009 THE PANDEMIC INFLUENZA A(H1N1) VACCINE VACCINATION IS GOOD PROTECTION This vaccine protects against influenza A(H1N1) and its complications. The novel pandemic flu virus, identified in April 2009, is now infecting people in the entire world. DISEASE Flu is spread by: > Contact with secretions from the nose and throat of an infected person Flu causes: > Fever > Cough > Fatigue > Headache > Muscle pain > General feeling of illness Possible complications: > Ear infection > Sinusitis > Bronchitis > Pneumonia > Death VACCINE Vaccination is the best protection against influenza A(H1N1) and its complications. The vaccine is offered to all people aged 6 months and over. The vaccine is particularly recommended for people with higher risk of complications from influenza A(H1N1) such as children under 5 years, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic illnesses (ex.: heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma or a suppressed immune system). This vaccine against influenza A(H1N1) is safe. Most reactions are harmless and do not last long. Symptoms experienced after vaccination are not necessarily caused by the vaccine. This vaccine cannot give you flu.

5 REACTIONS Possible reactions to the vaccine: > Pain (50% or more), redness and swelling (10-49%) at the injection site > Muscle pain, headache, fatigue and joint pain (10-49%) > Fever, swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit (1-9%) > Red eyes, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing (1-9%) or facial swelling (1 to 9 per 1,000) called Oculo-Respiratory Syndrome (ORS) > Dizziness, drowsiness, digestive symptoms, urticaria and rash (1 to 9 per 1,000) > Convulsions, neuralgia, temporary drop in the number of blood cells that help clotting (1 to 9 per 10,000) What to do: > Apply a cold damp compress to the injection site > Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve the symptoms > See a doctor if symptoms are severe There may be a very slight risk of developing Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after receiving the flu vaccine. The risk would be 1 additional case per million people vaccinated, compared with the expected GBS rate per million among the adult population, i.e. 10 to 20 cases per million. The syndrome causes progressive and reversible paralysis, which can sometimes leave permanent effects. The cause of GBS is unknown. Most cases occur following an intestinal or respiratory infection, especially in young adults and seniors. As with any drug or biological product, an allergic reaction may occur. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, it begins within minutes and the person administering the vaccine will be able to treat it. That is why you are advised to remain at the clinic for at least 15 minutes after the vaccine is administered. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, ASK THE PERSON ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE OR CONTACT INFO SANTÉ OR YOUR DOCTOR A Gouvernement du Québec, 2009