Andover Elementary/Middle School held its fifth annual school-based flu clinic on October 9 for the students. From 9 to 10:30 AM, 103 students from kindergarten through eighth grade were immunized against the flu.

The success of the school-based clinic comes from the convenience of it being held during regular school hours, eliminating missed class time for students and missed work time for parents. Thank you to the New Hampshire immunization program and the Capital Area Public Health Network for their assistance in making this program available to the children of AE/MS.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. The CDC also suggests that vaccination should begin soon after flu vaccine becomes available, ideally by October, to ensure that as many people as possible are protected before flu season begins.

Other defenses against the flu include good hand-washing, proper cough etiquette, as well as staying home when sick.

Additional information on the 2014-2015 flu season can be found at CDC.gov/flu.

26 AE/MS staff members were vaccinated at the Staff flu clinic on Thursday October 16th.