Genesis, Davenport Community Schools Fight Flu With Pilot Project

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Almost 300 students of Jefferson-Edison Elementary and Sudlow Intermediate schools in Davenport have joined the fight against seasonal influenza in their schools and in the community by receiving flu shots.

Genesis VNA and Hospice nurses immunized the students on Nov. 19 as part of a pilot project to determine if the protection against the flu will result in fewer missed school days during flu season.  The Scott County Health Department is also participating in the project and will track respiratory illness and absenteeism in the two schools over the winter.

The immunizations were provided at no charge to the children.
 
“Elementary and Intermediate school-age students are generally not considered to be in the high risk categories like the very young and the seniors. That doesn’t mean that they are immune, or that they aren’t carrying seasonal flu into the community,’’ explained Pat Retzl, Community and Provider Relations Director, Genesis VNA and Hospice. “Kids of this age are very good at spreading flu, but most immunization programs don’t target them.’’

Sue O’Brien, R.N. and school nurse for Jefferson-Edison Elementary, said the hope is that the immunization project will protect students against the flu in the upcoming season.

“This new flu shot project is a wonderful service for our students and their families,’’ O’Brien said. “We are hopeful it will make a significant difference in reducing the number of our children who experience the flu this year and will also reduce the number of absences because of the flu.

“We are pleased to be able to partner with Genesis Health System, which is our business partner at Jefferson-Edison and with the Scott County Health Department.’’

The first confirmed case of seasonal influenza in Iowa was reported recently.  A 7-month-old child was the first confirmed flu patient.

Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, M.D., the state epidemiologist, said several children in other states and countries also have come down with serious cases of flu, which could indicate this year's virus will be particularly hard on children, as last year's strain was.

“Kids are the most efficient spreaders of the disease but our vaccine strategies virtually ignore them,’’ said Dr. Louis Katz, M.D. and Vice President and Medical Director of the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center.  “I’ve always wondered why we aren’t immunizing kids because they are the carriers and they respond better to the vaccine than those with damaged immune systems.’’

Depending on the findings, the project may be expanded to other schools in the future.

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