Centennial Middle School  Kids Can Get Free Flu Shots at School – Wed., Dec. 10

On Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 2–6 p.m. students from Centennial Middle School, 915 N Ella, Spokane WA 99212, will be able to receive free flu shots.

The Spokane Regional Health District and Group Health Foundation are partnering to launch a three-year vaccine pilot program to improve immunization rates and reduce school absenteeism in Spokane County by offering free vaccines in schools.

Three schools in Spokane reported influenza illness outbreaks impacting 10 percent of their students in the 2006-2007 school year (SRHD's Communicable Disease Report 2001–2006). Parents site a number of barriers to immunizations, the most common is getting time off work to take their kids to the doctor.

This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new recommendation that all children ages 6 months up to 19 years get the influenza vaccine. However not all parents are accustomed to getting their children vaccinated against influenza. These clinics offer working parents, who can't miss work another outlet to have their child receive the flu vaccine.

More than 20, 000 children under the age of five are hospitalized in the U.S. each year due to complications from influenza (flu). Sadly, it was reported nationally that 83 children died last year from flu-related causes.

For more information please contact:

Group Health: Katie McCarthy, 206-448-2149; Cell: 206-372-3250; mccarthy.kx@ghc.org

Spokane Regional Health District: Julie Graham, 509-324-1539; Cell: 509-979-5574; jgraham@spokanecounty.org