Fall 2024

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The S.C. Department of Public Health (DPH) is partnering with your school to provide flu vaccines to students. The flu vaccine will be available in 2 forms: flu shot and flu nasal spray. A flu vaccine is recommended by CDC and DPH every year for everyone 6 months of age and older. It is the best way to protect your child against the flu.

I urge you to consider signing up your child to receive the flu shot or flu nasal spray in his/her school clinic. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Children in close settings like schools are at higher risk of getting sick with the flu and may spread it to other students and teachers as well as those in their household and community.
• If your child has asthma, diabetes or other chronic health conditions, they are more likely than other children to become very sick if they get the flu. It is especially important for children with any of these conditions to get the flu shot every year.
• Your child can get the flu shot or flu nasal spray at school from a DPH nurse and you do not need to miss work to take them to the doctor’s office.
• The flu is a primary reason that students (and parents) miss school days during influenza season.

Please look for information from your child’s school about the online consent form. Information about the date and time of the flu clinic will also be provided by your child’s school.

In addition, flu vaccine is available from your local DPH health department and your health care provider. Those 12 years of age and older can also receive the flu vaccine at a pharmacy which offers flu vaccine. I encourage you to find the facility that works best for you.

 

Please click here to download information about signing up your child. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Sherell Stevens, MBA, MPA

Immunization Operations Section Director

Bureau of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control S.C. Department of Public Health