Round 2 of school H1N1 clinics planned

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The second round of school-based H1N1 vaccination clinics is set to get underway next week, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Tuesday.

Starting Monday, Jan. 11, students who are younger than 10 and who received their first H1N1 flu vaccination in the fall will begin to receive their second dose.

• Click here for the full schedule H1N1 school clinics - round two

The clinics are expected to run over the course of four weeks. Parents who signed a consent form for the first round will not have to sign another form.

Health officials stressed the importance of the second dose for younger children.

"First doses may only give many younger children partial immunity against this serious virus," said Director of health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. "With another wave of illness very possible in the coming months, parents can keep their family as safe as possible my making sure that their young ones receive second doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine."

Children who were older than 10 at the time of their first dose will not need a second vaccination, health officials said.

Parents of children older than six months who are not yet in kindergarten or who attend kindergarten in private or preschool settings should contact their family doctor or pediatrician for the second dose.

During the first round of school clinics, the Health Department said it vaccinated 120,930 school-aged children.

Anyone with H1N1-related questions can call the Health Department's information line at 401-222-8022.