Nurse Wendy Pond administers a regular seasonal flu vaccine shot to MTA sophomore Dylan McFarland. MSAD #58 nurses did an outstanding job with the first immunization clinic held at Mt. Abram High School on Monday, Nov. 2. Students found that the shots were practically painless. Assisting the nurses were plenty of generous volunteers, volunteer nurses, representatives from NorthStar EMS and supporting faculty. Mt. Abram nurse Beth Luce reported that over 175 students of a total of 280 were receiving the vaccine that day. This represents over 62 percent of the student population. Mt. Abram students exceeded state projections where it was estimated that approximately 40 percent of high school students would participate. (David Hart photo) NORTH FRANKLIN COUNTY — The Maine Center for Disease Control has determined that the H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) is now widespread in Maine. An effort by local MSAD #58 nurses to vaccinate school children against the regular seasonal flu season is underway. Shipments of the vaccine for the regular seasonal influenza were received at the Strong Area Health Center and a clinic was started Monday at Mt. Abram High School.

Nurses will start the H1N1 vaccine today, Wednesday, Nov. 4; the vaccine arrived Monday. The nurses, who have been prepared since the start of the school year, were anxious to get started to protect not only their students, but to be of assistance to the entire community.

“Although the vaccine supply is trickling in at a much slower rate than we would like, the H1N1 vaccine efforts in Maine are extraordinary,” said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, the Director of the Maine CDC.

An estimated 12,000 school-aged children were vaccinated last week in many communities across the state.

With so many children being vaccinated against H1N1, not only are they being protected, but their entire community is also given some protection since school children are the major transmitters of influenza, Mills added.

After Maine started receiving the H1N1 vaccine, Mills explained that the first few schools were chosen by those who were first to request. Since then a surge of requests has been received.

As of last week, 99,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine were distributed throughout the state. Mills said this is just a tip on the iceberg compared to what they hope to receive this flu season.

Mills explained in an email that the distribu- tion process is complex, but follows formulations based on the vaccine dosage itself, population of at citizens at risk, and as many as nine variables.

Pregnant women, all people ages 2 to 25 years old and people with underlying health conditions are said to be top priorities in receiving early doses. Caregivers and household contacts of those less then six months old and healthcare workers are also prioritized.

Mills pointed out that these prioritized groups represent 700,000 people in Maine, so with only 99,000 doses in the state, pregnant women and children need to be the highest priority. “With enough vaccine for only one in seven people in the high priority groups, it is important that everyone knows what they can do to prevent illness as well as what they should do if they become ill,” Mills said.

Everyone should be extra vigilant with respiratory hygiene.

With the district now in receipt of both vaccines, district nurses have begun immunizing those who signed up. The circuit of nurses traveled to Stratton on Tuesday and today started a clinic in Phillips. They are expected at noon on Thursday in Strong and will visit Kingfield Friday morning. Immunization will continue into next week for those who have not had the vaccine but requested it.

School nurses, the school doctor and the administration are recommending that most all children should get vaccinated and are following the recommendations of the Maine CDC. There is no charge for either vaccine.