Leading state in kids’ flu prevention
Published 3:22 pm Thursday, October 4, 2012
- Pictured from left MES nurse Lisa Daniels and nationally licensed and certified clinical pharmacist Ben Main pose with several MES students. St. Clair is one of a limited number of counties participating in a FluMist project this year, with many more to be added in 2012. Other counties involved this year are Chilton, Elmore and Chambers.
New ways to immunize students have hit St. Clair County.
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Shots are no longer the norm. Now immunizations are being administered in the form of a mist.
Well received in other states, Alabama recently implemented the FluMist.
With the help of State Representative Jim McClendon, O.D., and pharmacist Ben Main, St. Clair County students can now experience flu prevention free from pain.
“We’re very excited about the Teach Flu a Lesson initiative,” said Margaret Elementary School (MES) principal Joe Goble. “Attendance is everything to us. Any program that will assist us to keep attendance up is an opportunity for students to be in school.”
Appreciative for McClendon’s efforts to get the FluMist into St. Clair County schools, Goble said this also helps parents.
“Having this done at school is a convenience factor for parents,” said Goble. “From a parent’s perspective, this is very helpful. We’ll take advantage of opportunities that help please our parents.”
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Main said according to head-to-toe trials conducted on people between the ages of 2-to-49 have found the mist more effective than shots, have longer coverage and is less invasive.
“This is a preventative measure,” said Main. “We had a 100 percent success rate last year with no adverse events.”
Administered in one nostril, then the other, the FluMist takes seconds to complete.
Students at MES were the first to receive the FluMist in the area.
“Only a limited number of counties will be able to participate in this project this year,” said McClendon. “There’s no screaming or fighting for the kids and momma isn’t fighting with anybody. This type of prevention has also been used and embraced in other states and it’s now able to make its introduction to Alabama.”
“McClendon saw the benefits right away,” said Main.
Instructed by the nurses to not cough, sneeze or take a breathe while receiving the mist, students said afterward it tickled.
“It sounds like you have flies up your nose,” said first grader Jackson Steiner.
Extending kudos to MES nurse Lisa Daniels, Goble and Main say she was instrumental in seeing that the FluMist was given at Margaret Elementary.
“Students can’t be educated if they aren’t here,” said Daniels. “We need our students to stay healthy.”
Eager to assist parents, Daniels like Goble said another benefit of the FluMist is it provides an opportunity to help out parents.
Looking to expand the mist to other areas throughout the state, McClendon agrees with Goble—it’s all about prevention and the best way to serve students.
