H1N1 vaccine shortage alters school plans

St. Petersburg, Florida - As the H1N1 flu virus spreads nationwide with more than 5,000 cases reported, production of the vaccine is running behind schedule.

CDC officials say to expect widespread shipments by mid-November. Because of the delay in production, school districts are scaling back H1N1 vaccines. Only a quarter of the shipments originally expected by the end of the month will arrive.

"It's all happening at the mercy of the manufacturing companies of the vaccine. It isn't happening as quickly as they all thought," says Rita Becchetti, MHS, RN, BC and Supervisor of School Health Services for Pinellas schools.

Pinellas parents have learned through a district-wide phone message that vaccinations will be pushed back a week to November 9, and then only the nasal mist may be all that is available and only to healthy students.

Beccheti says, "If that child is unable to have a nasal mist, they will not receive the vaccination at that time and will have to wait for a new supply to come in. The health department has said they would open up and repeat come back to do clinics so those children can receive immunization."

Health experts say dealing with H1N1 has been a challenge since the virus surfaced last spring. Becchetti explains, "It is a moving target. My concern is the confusion it's causing for the schools and families out there we keep changing the information."

"I'm here to talk to you about staying healthy," School nurse Donna Finegold tells a group of Azalea Middle School kids.

The students get a lesson on germs. Finegold sprinkles germ-like powder on a student's hand. The kids shake and then a black light shows what is passed on several hand shakes later. "Look at that look at all those germs," says Finegold.

The students wash their hands. Finegold scans their hands with the black light it shows they didn't do such a good job.

"In between your fingers, under your nails, wrists germs everywhere," Finegold tells one student.

The 6th graders learn the right way to wash hands. Finegold demonstrates, "Rub the back of hands with soap and water, rub between your fingers up your wrist clean around and under every fingernail."

Finegold says the process takes 20 seconds, about as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice.

"Bacteria tend to cling to the skin. It's the soap that makes it slide off," says Finegold. She suggests keeping your hands from getting to dry, "Chapped hands are more difficult to clean. The bacteria will stay in the cracks and creases in chapped hands so it's important that not happen it's good to use lotion."

Sixth grader Dejuan Bartee knows when to wash his hands, "Wash your hands after every meal and when you leave the bathroom."

These students now understand the connection between clean hands and staying healthy.

Sixth grader Andrew Allen says, "I don't like swine flu I don't want people to get sick and stuff."

The Pinellas Health Department is working on a school schedule for vaccinating students. In Hillsborough students with special medical needs are being vaccinated first. Hillsborough's health department officials say despite the shortage they will continue vaccinating students but may need to scale back on the number of schools.