H1N1 Virus Resources for Early Education, K-12 Schools and Higher Education
2009 H1N1 Influenza School-Located Vaccination (SLV): Information for Planners
This resource provides information for planning and conducting school-located 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics that target school-aged children enrolled in school and potentially other groups in the community.
New H1N1 Resources for Early Education and Child Care 9.8.2009
The Centers for Disease Control have added a toolkit for Child Care and Early Childhood providers to provide information and communication resources to help center-based and home-based child care programs, Head Start programs, and other early childhood programs implement recommendations from CDC’s Guidance on Helping Child Care and Early Childhood Programs Respond to Influenza during the 2009–10 Influenza Season.
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New H1N1 Guidance and Information for Colleges and Universities 8.21.09
CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009–10 Academic Year
CDC is releasing new guidance to help decrease the spread of flu among students, faculty, and staff of institutions of higher education (IHE) and post-secondary educational institutions during the 2009–10 academic year.
Communication Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education
The purpose of "Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education" is to provide information and communication resources to help students, faculty, and staff implement recommendations from CDC's Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009–10 Academic Year.
Technical Report on CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009–10 Academic Year
This Technical Report includes detailed explanations of the strategies presented in the CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009–10 Academic Year and suggestions on how to use them. The guidance is designed to decrease exposure to regular seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu while limiting the disruption of day-to-day activities and the vital academic activities that go on in Institutions of Higher Education (IHE). CDC will continue to monitor the situation and update the current guidance as more information is obtained on 2009 H1N1.
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New Flu Information for Schools from the Office of Non-Public Education 8.11.09
Flu Season Guidance for Schools
The Federal government has released updated guidance to assist schools in addressing issues related to the H1N1 influenza. The guidance, which is posted on the www.flu.gov website, is designed to help prevent the spread of flu among students, teachers, and other school personnel. This update provides a menu of tools, including a Communications Toolkit, that school and health officials can choose from based on the conditions in their area.
The school guidance is part of a broader national framework to respond to the H1N1 influenza, which includes encouraging people to get vaccinated against the virus and to take other actions to prevent infection.
School Dismissal Monitoring
The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Education
have developed a system for monitoring school dismissals that are flu related. School dismissals can be monitored in two ways:
1) by completing an online reporting form,
or 2) by submitting an electronic PDF version of the form via email or fax.
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New Flu Guidance and Toolkit 8.7.2009
The federal government today released updated guidance and a new toolkit to help school officials prepare for, and respond to, the H1N1 flu in the 2009–10 school year. The new resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were announced at a joint news conference this morning by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden. (A webcast of the news conference is available.)
The guidance includes recommendations for school responses to flu outbreaks similar in severity to what took place this past spring as well as to potentially more severe outbreaks. The toolkit includes practical advice on how to contain the spread of flu, sample letters to parents, and posters related to flu prevention.
“We can all work to keep our children healthy now by practicing prevention, close monitoring, and using common sense,” Secretary Duncan said. “We hope no schools have to close. But if they do, we need to make sure that children keep learning.” The toolkit advises school officials to “develop a school dismissal plan and options for how school work can be continued at home (e.g., homework packets, Web-based lessons, phone calls), if school is dismissed.” Duncan called the guidance “balanced, measured, and as clear and concise as possible.”
CDC and the U. S. Department of Education have set up a School Dismissal Monitoring System to report on school closings related to H1N1.
(Online reporting forms are available.)
Plans are also being developed for a school-based vaccination program. “We're going to continue to do everything possible to keep our children—and all Americans—healthy and safe this fall,” Secretary Sebelius said. “But all Americans also have a part to play. The best way to prevent the spread of flu is vaccination. A seasonal flu vaccine is ready to go, and we should have one for the 2009 H1N1 flu by mid-October.” (Information provided by CAPE)
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Update Letter on H1N1 Virus from USDOE and USHHS 6.26.2009
This important update address issues regarding issues regarding the start of school in the fall and the H1N1 Virus.
Letter from Dept. of Education and Dept. of Health and Human Services
Swine Flu Alert and Guidance
Guidance for ACSI Schools in regards to the H1N1 Flu Virus
- Schools should be alert to students exhibiting any influenza-like illness and coordinate with local health departments if cases are suspected among students.
- Any student with flu-like symptoms—fever above 37.8°C or 100°F accompanied by cough or sore throat—should be referred to a physician or other medical professional who can test for the H1N1 flu virus.
- Schools should implement a call system to determine if absences from school are related to illness.
- Schools should strongly consider dismissing all students when there is a confirmed or suspected case of flu in a student, teacher, staff member or family member of a student.
- Schools should follow all directives from the local authorities. Communicate and work with your local school district and local health department.
- If the school closes, all related activities such as games, concerts, and other gatherings should be cancelled. Encourage parents and students to avoid congregating outside of school.
- If the school closes, it should immediately contact the public health department. If your school chooses to close as a precautionary measure, contact the health department and communicate.
- Schools should consult with their local or state health departments for guidance on reopening. If there are no additional confirmed or suspected cases are identified among students (or school personnel) for a period of seven days, the school can consider reopening.
- Schools in unaffected areas should begin to prepare for the possibility of school dismissal. This should include asking teachers, parents, and all staff to prepare contingency plans.
How Could the Flu Affect Your Ministry? Would your ministry be able to keep operating if the swine flu became a pandemic? A recent article by ECCU.
Influenza pandemic: Online resources
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