School Travel to Resume as H1N1 Risk Declines

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, announced today that effective immediately, travel restrictions for schools across the province have been lifted.

�We are allowing school-related travel to resume as we feel that the health risk we were facing one month ago has been significantly reduced,� said Minister King. �The majority of students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 have received the H1N1 vaccine and student absenteeism rates have returned to normal levels.�

School-aged children were among the first to receive the vaccine when it became available in the province, beginning with the lower grades and moving into high schools. As of yesterday (November 26), 93.5 per cent of children from Grades K-6 has received their H1N1 vaccination.

Vaccinations for Grades 7-9 have also been completed. As of yesterday, 80 per cent of these students has been recorded as receiving the vaccine. This number will increase as data entry continues.

Vaccinations continue today for students in Grades 10-12 and regional health authorities expect to conclude the H1N1 vaccination program in schools by the end of the day. Students who have not received the H1N1 vaccine in school due to illness or absenteeism can receive the vaccine at a mass immunization clinic.

Absenteeism rates have now dropped below eight per cent, which is comparable with typical absenteeism rates for the month of November.

�I would like to thank the dedicated staff within our health care system and our school districts for working collaboratively to deliver such an efficient immunization program,� said Minister King. �There has been a tremendous effort involved and our children are clearly benefiting from early vaccination.�

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Media contact:
Tara Power
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 727-5953
tarapower@gov.nl.ca 

2009 11 27                                                   10:35 a.m.