Sebasticook Valley Hospital (SVH) Ambulance staff worked with local school districts MSAD #53 and RSU 19 to deliver 2780 flu shot to students. Six members of the SVH Ambulance Department spent over 64 hours over 16 days at the schools administering both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccine. The vaccines were made available free of charge through the Maine Centers for Disease Control and the volunteer vaccine administration efforts of Sebasticook Valley Hospital.
Because the Novel H1N1 influenza virus strain impacted young people, age 25 and younger, more significantly than seasonal flu strains, the State of Maine worked in concert with local schools and health care organizations to ensure students had an opportunity to obtain the flu vaccines free of charge on specially designated flu clinic days at the schools. Permission from parents or guardians was required for the student vaccines.
Michael Gallagher, Superintendent of SAD #53 shared, “I can’t say enough about Sebasticook Valley Hospital’s willingness to assist with the administration of the H1N1 and Seasonal flu vaccines in SAD #53. The EMTs that worked with our school nurse and other nurse volunteers were outstanding. They rolled up their sleeves and accomplished a huge task that I had questions about whether it could be done.”
Each year Sebasticook Valley Hospital conducts seasonal flu clinics throughout the region, most located at the hospital’s primary care practices, Sebasticook Regional Family Care offices in Carmel, Clinton, Newport, and Pittsfield. This year both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines were made available. SVH also offered its first Drive Thru Seasonal Flu Shot Clinic at the Somerset Plaza in Pittsfield with over 150 adults participating in the health event and a large number of SVH employees offering their services for the event, including members of the Ambulance Department. |
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