RICHMOND - HENRICO -
It's been a stressful week for many parents in Central Virginia. They are trying to decide whether or not to give their children the H1N1 vaccine.
The Health Department is giving out free shots to students at area public schools and some parents had to turn in their permission slips Friday.
While many parents say they wrestled with the decision, others are deciding it's the best option.
Health officials argue this vaccine is perfectly safe and they say it's the virus that has killed over 81 children in the U.S. so far.
While some pondered the decision, many Henrico parents we talked to say they signed the form to have their children vaccinated for the swine flu at school.
Kathy Carpenter is the mother of a kindergartner who says, "We wanted the kids to be protected and we didn't know if she'd be able to get the shot done at the doctor's office. So this is the easiest way."
Another parent says, "I grew up in a medical family and haven't had problems so far, so we're just going to go along with the doctor's advice."
While permission forms are still being tallied in Henrico and Richmond, health officials say the response from parents has been overwhelmingly in support of the vaccine.
Eight percent of emergency room cases are linked to the swine flu and some pediatricians' offices are seeing 80 to 90 cases a day.
Chesterfield and Henrico Health Director William Nelson, MD says, "This particular strain, the way it's built, the immune systems of people under the age of 50 has not seen it before so that's a whole new population not immune to it and it's running right through them."
In Chesterfield, vaccines will be given out starting Monday, October 19 and continue for four weeks. Parents can sign up for afternoon and evening appointments.
In Henrico, the innoculations will begin October 26 through November 9, during school hours. In Richmond, the vaccine will be given out October 19 at Mary Munford Elementary school. The rest of the schedule is pending. The Hanover schedule is also pending.
All school districts say they plan to start in the elementary schools and work their way to the higher grades.
The Health Department is giving out free shots to students at area public schools and some parents had to turn in their permission slips Friday.
While many parents say they wrestled with the decision, others are deciding it's the best option.
Health officials argue this vaccine is perfectly safe and they say it's the virus that has killed over 81 children in the U.S. so far.
While some pondered the decision, many Henrico parents we talked to say they signed the form to have their children vaccinated for the swine flu at school.
Kathy Carpenter is the mother of a kindergartner who says, "We wanted the kids to be protected and we didn't know if she'd be able to get the shot done at the doctor's office. So this is the easiest way."
Another parent says, "I grew up in a medical family and haven't had problems so far, so we're just going to go along with the doctor's advice."
While permission forms are still being tallied in Henrico and Richmond, health officials say the response from parents has been overwhelmingly in support of the vaccine.
Eight percent of emergency room cases are linked to the swine flu and some pediatricians' offices are seeing 80 to 90 cases a day.
Chesterfield and Henrico Health Director William Nelson, MD says, "This particular strain, the way it's built, the immune systems of people under the age of 50 has not seen it before so that's a whole new population not immune to it and it's running right through them."
In Chesterfield, vaccines will be given out starting Monday, October 19 and continue for four weeks. Parents can sign up for afternoon and evening appointments.
In Henrico, the innoculations will begin October 26 through November 9, during school hours. In Richmond, the vaccine will be given out October 19 at Mary Munford Elementary school. The rest of the schedule is pending. The Hanover schedule is also pending.
All school districts say they plan to start in the elementary schools and work their way to the higher grades.
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