Two elementary schools in Harlem will be among the first in New York City to receive H1N1 influenza vaccinations, according to a recent announcement by the New York City Department of Health.
The schools—P.S. 125 Ralph Bunche School on West 123rd Street and P.S. 154 Harriet Tubman School on West 127th Street—are included in Phase I of a three-phase vaccine distribution program to
begin on Oct. 28 which Department of Health officials say will eventually vaccinate a million students at 1,342 public and private schools citywide.
Phase II, beginning on Nov. 4, will include two more local schools—P.S. 165 Robert E. Simon School at 234 West 109th Street and P.S. 180 Hugo Newman School at 370 West 120th Street. Nine schools in the area are included in Phase III, which is set to begin on Nov. 9: P.S. 36 Margaret Douglas School on Morningside Drive, P.S. 76 A. Philip Randolph School on West 121st Street, P.S. 129 John H. Finley School on West 130th Street, P.S. 145 The Bloomingdale School on West 105th Street, P.S. 163 Alfred E. Smith School on West 97th Street, P.S. 241 Family Academy on West 113th Street, P.S. M242 Gwendolyn Powell Brown Computer School and Future Leaders Institute Charter School on West 122nd Street, and Sisulu-Walker Charter School on West 115th Street.
The vaccinations are free of charge and voluntary, and they will be given during regular school hours. While some parents worry about potential side effects, the Department of Health and federal health officials maintain that the vaccine is just as safe as the seasonal flu equivalent.
The 20 Phase I schools in Manhattan each have nurses and fewer than 400 students. The seven Phase II Manhattan schools each have over 600 students while the 92 Phase III schools have over 400 students or are small schools without their own nurses.
According to the Department of Health Web site, phase “dates are approximate and will depend on vaccine supply and other variables.” The city will also sponsor vaccination clinics for middle school and high school students in November and December.
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