Tulsa Mother Wants H1N1 Booster Shots Given At Schools

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK – Tulsa Health Department nurses gave the H1N1 vaccine to dozens of students at Bell Elementary school Tuesday morning, but one mother says health workers aren't doing enough to protect the youngest students.

Kids, ages 10 and younger need an H1N1 booster shot about a month after getting the vaccine, just like kids have to get a booster shot for the seasonal flu vaccine.

But the Tulsa Health Department isn't doing follow-up visits at schools, leaving some parents scratching their heads.

The Health Department held its TPS clinic last week at Cooper Elementary, where a four-year-old student died of the virus. 

Nurses are visiting 18 other schools, stopping by Bell Elementary Tuesday morning.

“So I was really excited when I found out she was going to get the vaccine, but then very disappointed that I don't know if I can get her the second dose,” said Misty Skipper, a mother.

Misty Skipper's eight-year-old daughter goes to Bell Elementary. Skipper questions why the health department is coming to school for round one, but not round two.

“To me, it’s a waste of vaccine. If they need the second dose for it to work, they need to come back and give the second dose,” said Misty Skipper.

“We simply cannot go back to a school for a second visit. We don’t have the manpower and frankly we don’t really have the funding to do that,” said Melanie Christian, Tulsa Health Department.

Melanie Christian says the majority of Tulsa parents are opting their kids out of the vaccine.

At Limestone Elementary, two-thirds of students opted out, so the number of booster cases at this time is very small.

“We're trying to make it as convenient as possible for parents. We are offering multiple clinics that are walk-in clinics, that are free of charge, in various locations around the county,” said Melanie Christian.

Walk-in clinics are open until 7:00 at night. Plus, there are Saturday morning clinics.

“It’s great, but what they don’t understand is that it’s not easy for parents to give the second dose to their kids,” said Misty Skipper.

Skipper says a follow-up visit with a handful of nurses would be best of all.

The Tulsa Health Department is having a walk-in clinic on Thursday night, plus two more next week, including one on Saturday. 

On Tuesday, the health department expanded its list of who is eligible to get the vaccine. It now includes adults 18 to 24, and all caretakers and guardians of young children, not just custodial parents.

For up-to-date information about Vaccination Blitz locations, call your local county health department or visit www.health.ok.gov, or call the Oklahoma State Department of Health toll-free H1N1 hotline at: 1-866-278-7134.

Phones are answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.