A program that's aimed at keeping thousands of keiki and their families flu free has been extended another year despite a decrease in federal funding. "This is early in the season and as you've heard me say before Hawaii tends to lag about a month behind the mainland when we do see sort of peak activity,” said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist.
Some say it's better to be safe than sorry and that's certainly the case as the Department of Health launches its 5th annual Stop Flu at School campaign.
"We do our best and part of our best is to vaccinate as many kids as possible,” said Dr. Park.
More than 200 students and a few teachers at Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary School were among the first to get their free shot or nasal spray to ward off against influenza.
So far this year, 336 public, private and charter school students 5-13 years old are participating in the school-based clinics which run through early December.
The program, which costs $1.2 million for the vaccines and about $800,000 to operate, lost much of its federal funding this year, but has been extended thanks to a $780,000 donation by the Hawaii Association of Health Plans.
"Without those dollars this program stood to be drastically downsized or even eliminated,” said Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz.
"It's a win, win,” said Jennifer Diesman, HAHP president. “The program it makes sense to get their vaccinations at school so that they stay healthy and they stay in school and this way it prevents folks from taking their children out of school to go to the doctors office."
Over the past couple of years, more than 265,000 kids have been immunized by the free program.
It's hoped this public private partnership will help keep communities flu free.
"I think the health plans are committed to the program and want to make sure that its effective this year and certainly that we'd consider funding it again in the future years,” said Diesman.
