When it comes to the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines in Northwest Arkansas, some school districts already have them, and some don't. But one band room in Springdale is the hub of vaccination activity, on Wednesday.
There may be a statewide shortage, but here at Hellstern Middle School in Springdale, students are lining up to get both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine, with hopes there will be enough for everyone. Springdale School District Nurse, Barbara Ludwig, speaks to students as she gives shots. "Relax that arm: make it look like a noodle, hun. -This is our 10th day. We've done over 1,000 a day. Monday we did 1,500."
With about 12,000 Springdale students already innoculated, Ludwig says they've still got seven more schools to go. "I'm going to give you a shot, okay? In some schools we had almost 100% turnout. -Now you won't get sick."
Many of the students in line aren't excited about the shots, Ludwig says. "They are sometimes a little bit nervous. -What is your name?" But Ludwig says it's not the needle that makes her worry: it's running out of vaccines. "I think that's a fear of everyone in the entire U.S. right now. We are all on pins and needles hoping that we get enough."
Rogers School District Communications Coordinator Ashley Kelley Siwiec says they've held two vaccination clinics so far, with two more to go. "We've had great turnouts. We've given out about 4,500 vaccines so far. We did not run out of any vaccines. We were able to serve everybody that came."
But Springdale volunteer Kerri Turner, who has three kids in the district, says even if they have enough vaccinations to go around, any release form mistakes will keep a child from being innoculated. "It just breaks your heart when you're sitting here as a volunteer, is when kids come in and they've waited in line and everything else, and there's one signature missing on the paper."
Health officials say in Springdale, the community support has been so great, they have actually had to turn volunteers away, and that kind of support is making everything in Springdale run like clockwork. If a student misses vaccination day at their school, Springdale school nurses say they can get the vaccinations at a different school in their district.
Fayetteville's School District won't get the flu vaccines until the Monday before Thanksgiving, and Bentonville's district won't see the vaccines until December, but both of those districts say their overall flu numbers are not rising, this week.
There may be a statewide shortage, but here at Hellstern Middle School in Springdale, students are lining up to get both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine, with hopes there will be enough for everyone. Springdale School District Nurse, Barbara Ludwig, speaks to students as she gives shots. "Relax that arm: make it look like a noodle, hun. -This is our 10th day. We've done over 1,000 a day. Monday we did 1,500."
With about 12,000 Springdale students already innoculated, Ludwig says they've still got seven more schools to go. "I'm going to give you a shot, okay? In some schools we had almost 100% turnout. -Now you won't get sick."
Many of the students in line aren't excited about the shots, Ludwig says. "They are sometimes a little bit nervous. -What is your name?" But Ludwig says it's not the needle that makes her worry: it's running out of vaccines. "I think that's a fear of everyone in the entire U.S. right now. We are all on pins and needles hoping that we get enough."
Rogers School District Communications Coordinator Ashley Kelley Siwiec says they've held two vaccination clinics so far, with two more to go. "We've had great turnouts. We've given out about 4,500 vaccines so far. We did not run out of any vaccines. We were able to serve everybody that came."
But Springdale volunteer Kerri Turner, who has three kids in the district, says even if they have enough vaccinations to go around, any release form mistakes will keep a child from being innoculated. "It just breaks your heart when you're sitting here as a volunteer, is when kids come in and they've waited in line and everything else, and there's one signature missing on the paper."
Health officials say in Springdale, the community support has been so great, they have actually had to turn volunteers away, and that kind of support is making everything in Springdale run like clockwork. If a student misses vaccination day at their school, Springdale school nurses say they can get the vaccinations at a different school in their district.
Fayetteville's School District won't get the flu vaccines until the Monday before Thanksgiving, and Bentonville's district won't see the vaccines until December, but both of those districts say their overall flu numbers are not rising, this week.
