Welcome to the Kinry Road Health Office!
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2009 News Releases Department of Health
Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH, Commissioner
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November 30, 2009
****DUTCHESS COUNTY TO HOST H1N1 VACCINATION CLINIC****
Poughkeepsie... The Dutchess County Department of Health will hold a free
H1N1 vaccination clinic on Saturday, December 5th at John Jay High School
from 10am to 4pm by appointment only in the town of East Fishkill.
Vaccinations will be available to individuals in the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended priority groups.
Appointments can be made by going online to the county website,
www.dutchessny.gov, and click 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 4th or sooner if all available appointments are filled.
“Getting vaccinated is one of the most important steps individuals can take
to protect themselves,” said Dutchess County Commissioner of Health Michael
C. Caldwell, MD, MPH. “2009 H1N1 flu vaccine has become more readily
available in the past few weeks, with even more vaccine to become available
in the next month. Eventually everyone will be able to get the
vaccination. This Saturday’s clinic is for those residents in the CDC
priority groups who have not yet been able to get their H1N1 vaccination from
their doctor.”
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, such as: chronic lung (e.g.,
asthma), heart (except high blood pressure), kidney, liver, blood, or
metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes); nerve and muscle system disorders that
affect breathing or that can increase risk for choking (e.g., spinal cord
injuries, seizures); immune-suppressed conditions (from medications or HIV);
or long-term aspirin therapy.
Individuals with a severe allergy to eggs and/or latex or who have had
Guillain-Barre Syndrome cannot be vaccinated. Also, individuals with acute
febrile illness (fever) cannot be vaccinated.
Dr. Caldwell reminds all residents 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-free without medication for at least 24 hours.
The Dutchess County Department of Health will announce additional 2009 H1N1
vaccination clinics in December pending availability of the vaccine.
Here is some important information for frequently asked questions:
***NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT FOR '09-'10 SIXTH GRADERS***--
Tdap- Will be required for all incoming 6th graders who have not
received one of the following forms of vaccination in the past 2 years:
DTP,Td, DTaP.
More information will be sent home with 5th grade students in May.
Also, it is required for all incoming 6th graders to present MD verified
proof of varicella (chicken pox) immunization if you have not already done so.
EMERGENCY CARDS:
In the first week of the year EMERGENCY CARDS will be sent home. Please
take a few moments to fill them out. The more numbers you can give us the
better. Please make every effort to include local contacts. We realize many
parents now commute a significant distance to work. If your child becomes
ill or injured at school, it is essential that someone of your choice nearby
is available to see that he/she receives any necessary medical attention.
Also, if your numbers or emergency contacts change during the year, please
notify us as soon as possible.
EARLY DISMISSAL:
Please review with your child what to do in case of an EARLY DISMISSAL.
This information is on the bottom of the emergency card. You should have a
plan in place; one with which you and your child are comfortable.
MEDICATIONS:
NY State law requires the following procedure for administration of
medication in schools:
1. The nurse should administer medication only as necessary during
the school day.
2. Instructions for administering of medication must be in writing
from the physician and include:
a. The name of the student
b. The diagnosis/medical condition for which the medication is
needed.
c. The name of the medication.
d. The dosage and time to be administered.
e. A list of possible side effects.
3. A letter must be on file from the parent/guardian requesting
the administration of the medication by the school.
4. Medication MUST be brought to the school by the parent/guardian
in its original container.
It may NOT be sent to school with the child.
5. Updated physician's orders and continuing prescriptions are
required at the beginning of EACH school year.
6. All unused medications must be picked up by the parent/guardian
within 7 days after it is no longer needed or it will be discarded.
7. All prescribed medications will be kept in a locked area and
dispensed by authorized personnel only.
8. If any directions change on the prescription (time/dosage), the
physician must submit the request in writing.
9. A verbal or telephone request from the parent or physician is NOT
acceptable.
10. Special guidelines apply to field trips. Please contact the
school nurse for specific information.
11. The term "medication" refers to both prescription and "over the
counter" drugs and treatments. This includes cough drops,antacids,
and pain relievers as well.
CRUTCHES/WHEELCHAIRS:
If crutches or a wheelchair are needed, we must have a note on file from
your doctor stating such, as well as the reason they are needed and
anticipated length of time they will be needed. The student must report to
the Health Office upon entering the school building with initial request.
STATE MANDATED PHYSICALS:
NY State requires that all new registrants, as well as students entering
grades Kindergarten, 2, 4, 7, and 10 receive physicals. You may have your
child examined by your private physician or the school physician will
perform the exam. All private physician physicals are due to the health
office no later than October 1 of the school year. Any student who has not
returned a form by October 1 will be scheduled for a physical with the
school physician.
STATE MANDATED DENTAL CERTIFICATES:
NY State now requests that dental certificates be on file in the school
health office for newly entering students as well as those entering grades K,
2,4,7,& 10.
ATHLETIC PHYSICALS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS:
THIS PERTAINS TO 6TH GRADERS ONLY:
In order to tryout for a team or interscholastic sport at the junior
high level, an athletic physical must be completed by the district
physician. Beginning in the early spring of the 6th grade year, any next
year's 7th grade students who are interested will be instructed to pick up a
permission slip in the Health Office. A parent signature is required to
perform an athletic physical on your child. Once the signed permission slip
is returned to the Health Office, the student will be registered for a
physical. The physical is done privately in the health office during school
hours and at no charge. If your child successfully completes the athletic
physical, the appropriate forms will automatically be sent over to the
junior high. If the physician requires any special clearance, you will be
notified. The athletic physical is good for 1 year, but a new permission
slip must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian for each sport.
STATE MANDATED SCREENING:
The school nurse will perform the NY State mandated screenings if no
recent documentation is received from the student's private physician.
Screening includes height, weight, vision, hearing, and scoliosis checks
mandated at various grade levels.
IMMUNIZATIONS:
Students must meet the minimal New York State Immunization requirements
for entry into school. This includes physician proof of immunity to
varicella if your child was born on or after 1/1/98 or born on or after
1/1/94 and is enrolling in grade 6. Tdap is also required for incoming 6th
graders who are 11 years old. If your child is not yet 11, documentation of
having received the Tdap will be required by 2 weeks following your child's
11th birthday. Most other grades require 3 doses DPT, 3 doses Polio
(either IPV or OPV), 2 doses MMR (the first MMR must be given no earlier
than 4 days preceding the child's first birthday), and 3 doses of Hepatitis
B (or the 2 dose adult series). This may seem confusing, so if you have any
questions, please feel free to call me.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXCUSES:
If your child needs to be excused from PE, a note is required. A
parent/guardian note is sufficient for up to 1 week if a physician has not
evaluated your child for the illness/injury. In order for your child to be
excused from PE for longer than 1 week, a doctor's note is required. The
note must state the reason why and length of time your child will need to be
excused from PE.
SICKNESS/INJURY OCCURRING AT HOME:
Please notify the Health Office of any illness, injury, or physical
condition that your child may have so that we may be aware of your child's
condition and needs. The principal may request a doctor's note to verify a
visit, to obtain medical clearance for return to school or to confirm
medical evaluation after an illness.
NUTRITIONAL VALUES FOR WCSD SCHOOL LUNCHES
All nutritional values and serving amounts are available on the
district's website. Just go to www.wappingersschool.org. On the right side
of the home page, you will see "at a glance". Scroll down and click
on "lunch menus". Click on the month next to "elementary" or "secondary".
On any calendar day under the list of lunch options click on "view nutrients"
and you will see the approximate values for each item on that day's menu.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION, PLEASE DO
NOT HESITATE TO CALL ME AT: 463-7322 ext.104.
