Seasonal flu vaccination clinics will be held during the school day at the Newton Public Schools in October and November. Students in Kindergarten through grade 12 may receive vaccine.

The Bigelow Middle School clinic will be on Thursday October 25th. Each student to be vaccinated must have a parent/guardian complete two forms: a consent/screening form and an insurance/administration record. Forms are available in the school nurse’s office, or may be downloaded at www.newtonma.gov/flu. Forms are due to the School Nurse Tuesday October 23rd.

Parents may choose the flu shot or the nasal spray flu vaccine for their child. Parents must indicate the type of vaccine they wish their child to receive by circling it on the form. There is no cost to receive the vaccine, but insurance information is requested.

Seasonal flu vaccine is offered at no cost to families because the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is providing vaccine to communities who choose to vaccinate school-age children. The City of Newton Health & Human Services Department is providing the vaccination supplies and staff time to run the program, with the help of Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.  Some costs will be recouped through insurance billing.  All students, regardless of insurance status, are invited to receive vaccine with parent permission.

Students are not required to receive flu vaccine, however the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccine for all people age 6 months and up. There are many places to get a flu vaccine including at school, your primary health care provider or community clinics. For additional clinic dates for the whole family, visit www.newtonma.gov/flu.

In addition to vaccination, it is important to practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette by washing hands often; covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the arm; and staying home when sick.

For more flu prevention tips, talk to the school nurse or check out these websites: www.newtonma.gov/flu and www.cdc.gov/flu