2009 News

November 5, 2009

Bucks County Health Department Announces Plans for H1N1 Mass Vaccination Clinics in County School Districts
Clinics will begin Tuesday in Bristol

This morning, Bucks County Health Director David Damsker, MD, MPH, announced plans for the mass H1N1 vaccination of the county’s school-aged children.

“When we discussed how we as a health department could have maximum impact on the primary prevention of the CDC’s priority groups, our conclusion was to offer assistance to the county’s 13 school districts,” Damsker said.  He pointed out that as of this week, the PA Department of Health is reporting that nearly 60 percent of H1N1 cases are being seen in those ages 5-19, precisely who the county’s plan targets.

The plan was shared with all 13 school superintendents and district nurses in September, a plan Damsker describes as “well-received.”    

This week, the county received 15,000 injectable doses and 4,000 nasal mist doses from the state’s available supply, an amount Damsker felt was significant enough to make an impact on primary prevention. In anticipation of receipt of vaccine, several weeks ago, consent forms were distributed through all the schools. Currently, the return rate is anywhere between 20 and 60 percent of the student population in each school district. On Thursday, letters were sent out to all parents at each district advising them of the particulars for their clinic.

Bucks will be using high schools for each of the clinics because they have the largest amount of space to run the clinics.  Hours were determined in cooperation with each individual district –most overlap between during and after-school hours. In some districts this will allow high-schoolers to receive a vaccine toward the end of their day, and will allow parents of younger children to accompany them after school. (Click here to view the calendar)

The county anticipates that so long as supply allows, it will take less than three weeks to complete the clinics.

The first week of clinics

• The first clinic is being held on Tuesday, November 10 and will include Bristol Township and Bristol Borough School Districts from 2 to 8 p.m.  

• On Wednesday, the team will conduct a clinic at New Hope Solebury School District from  2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Morrisville School District from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Thursday, a clinic will be conducted at Pennsbury, one of the three largest districts in the county. That clinic will take place from 1 to 7 p.m.

• We will then move to Quakertown School District on Friday, from 2 to 8 p.m.

Damsker emphasizes that the county will require more vaccine to complete the clinics according to our plan, and expects to receive those doses from the state.   

What to expect
When parents and students arrive at their clinic, the staff will check for a consent form. Those who have submitted forms through their school districts will receive priority. Because of the limited supply of doses received to date, the county will pre-allocate quantities based on those consent forms provided by school districts.   Damsker advises to anticipate lines as everyone moves through the process. The county has rehearsed for this scenario at pandemic flu drills for the last four years, so Damsker encourages citizens to be confident in the department’s ability to provide mass vaccinations. “Last month, Bucks County provided seasonal flu vaccines for over 6,400 citizens in four hours, and we were very appreciative of the cooperation and patience of those who waited on line – we are asking for that same understanding at these clinics,” he implored.

Once the county has received enough vaccine to conduct clinics at all districts, the Health Department’s plan is to revisit each site for those who still need a first vaccine, as well as to provide a second vaccine to those aged nine and under, as per CDC guidance. 

Addressing other priority groups such as pregnant women and pre-school children
The plan is still the same in Bucks County – everyone in a priority group other than school-aged children will receive their vaccine through their physician.   As of Monday, 39 of doctors’ practices in Bucks County have received 19,700 doses for patients in these other priority groups.  

Damsker emphasized that this undertaking wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of school district officials, parents, staff, the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency, Major Incident Response Team (law enforcement officers from a variety of municipal police departments who help keep our sites safe and secure) and our Medical Reserve Corps volunteers. 

Anyone wishing to help the county Health Department in its efforts toward public health preparedness by joining the Medical Reserve Corps should call 215-345-3318 for more information.