Arlington Central School District will be closed today, Wednesday, December 9, 2009, due to inclement weather. All after school activities and continuing education classes have been cancelled.

       ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

                              DOREEN BISCHOF, RN, NCSN, SUPERVISOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY

              696 Dutchess Turnpike • Poughkeepsie, New York 12603

              Voice 845-483-3910 x 220 • Fax 845-483-3620

  Email:  dbischof@acsdny.org

December 7, 2009

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff, 

The Dutchess County Department of Health (DOH) will hold a free H1N1 vaccination clinic for all Dutchess County residents on Saturday, December 12th at Vail Farm Elementary School from 10am to 2pm.  Vaccinations will be available to individuals in the CDC recommended priority groups, which include all children ages 6 months to 24 years old.  Appointments are required, and are available on a first come, first serve basis.  

Appointments can be made by going online to the county website at  HYPERLINK "http://www.dutchessny.gov" www.dutchessny.gov, and clicking on the “What to do about the Flu” button.  Residents who do not have access to the Internet can contact the H1N1 Flu Vaccination Registrar at (845) 486-2226 Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to 4pm.  Registration will close for this clinic at 4pm on Friday, December 11th or sooner if all available appointments are filled. 

Dutchess County residents who are in one or more of the following CDC-recommended priority groups are eligible for the H1N1 vaccine at this FREE clinic:

Pregnant women 

Persons aged 6 months to 24 years of age 

Persons over age 24 who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months of age 

Health-care and emergency medical personnel 

Persons aged 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza–related complications.

Please remember to take everyday steps that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like the flu including:

Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, not your hands. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. 

Wash your hands often with soap and water.  Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you’re not near a sink. 

Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.  Flu spreads that way.  Try to avoid close contact with sick people. 

Stay home when you are sick, and do not return to school or work until you have been fever and symptom-free without medication for at least 24 hours.

Since the clinic is being run by the Dutchess County Department of Health, all questions should be directed to the DOH at 486-2226.  Please do not call the school, as they will not be able to answer questions that you may have regarding this clinic.  While we are currently seeing a decline in flu-like illness in our schools, we may see another wave of illness in the future.  We encourage you to have your children vaccinated against H1N1.  

Sincerely,

Doreen Bischof, RN, NCSN

District Health and Safety Supervisor

Free H1N1 Vaccination Clinic Vail Farm Elementary School Saturday, December 12