Parent Information

What is influenza disease?

• Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus.
• The virus infects the nose, throat, and lungs.
• It can cause mild to severe illness, hospitalization, and even death.

What are the symptoms?

• Anyone can get flu and it strikes suddenly and can last several days.
• Symptoms of flu disease may include:
  • Fever or feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose o Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches o Fatigue (very tired)
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

How does influenza disease spread?

• Flu is spread by:
  • An infected person’s droplets from cough, sneeze or talk enter the mouth, eye or nose.
  • Touching a surface or object with flu virus on it and then touching mouth, eyes or nose.
• An infected person can infect others 1 day before symptoms start and up to 5 to 7 days after symptoms start.
• Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

How do I prevent the flu?

• Get a yearly flu vaccine.
• Wash your hands properly and often.
• Cover your cough and sneeze with arm.
• Clean and sterilize surfaces.
• Stay home if you are sick.

Where can I find more information?

• Ask your doctor.
• Call the Alabama Department of Public Health, Immunization Division, at 1-800-469-4599.
• Go to cdc.gov and type influenza in the SEARCH box.

Who should get the influenza (flu) vaccine?

• The flu vaccine is recommended every year for everyone age 6 months or older.

 Who should be vaccinated against influenza because they are at increased risk?

• Children 6 months of age through 5 years Adults 65 years of age or older
• Pregnant women
• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who have medical conditions including the following:
  • Asthma
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Heart disease
  • Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
  • Kidney disorders
  • Liver disorders
  • Weakened immune systems due to disease or medication (such as HIV/AIDS or cancer)
  • People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
  • People with extreme obesity

What are the common vaccine side effects and risks?

• Flu vaccines are safe, but some side effects can occur.
• Minor problems following the flu vaccine include soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot, hoarseness, sore, red or itchy eyes, cough, fever, aches, headache, itching, and fatigue.
• More serious problems may include Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in fewer than 1 or 2 cases per one million people vaccinated, children receiving multiple vaccines slightly increase in fever with seizure.
• People who should not get the flu vaccine include anyone with severe, life threatening allergies, had GBS before, or not feeling well the day of vaccination.

 Where can I find more information?

• Ask your doctor.
• Ask you school nurse.
• Call the Alabama Department of Public Health, Immunization Division, at 1-800-469-4599.
• Go to cdc.gov and type influenza in the SEARCH box.

 

Alabama Department of Public Health
Immunization Division, 201 Monroe St, Montgomery, AL 36104
1-800-469-4599 www.adph.org/imm 2/29/16

Carrying too heavy of a backpack may affect children’s health and have long term effects.  Research shows that children carrying more than 10% of their body weight is damaging to their spinal and postural health. 

What are the possible problems related to carrying heavy backpacks?

• Strain to the shoulders and back affecting overall ease of movement and causing pain/discomfort

• Affects balance and posture

• Spinal problems such as:  scoliosis (crooked spine) and disc degeneration

• May alter nerve communication

• Pull bones out of alignment by stretching ligaments/muscles

What should I do?

• Your backpack should weigh no more than 10% of your body weight

• Make sure you wear your backpack with both straps over your shoulders.  Wearing your backpack over just one shoulder puts your spine out of balance and stresses that side

• See your physician or chiropractor for an exam for early detection or if you are symptomatic

• For more information view applicable law documents at ALSDE Health Laws & Policies.

The Jessica Elkins Act (2014-274) provides awareness and vaccine information regarding meningococcal meningitis disease and its vaccine to parents and guardians of students. 

For information regarding immunizations, meningitis, and flu, please visit the ALSDE Immunizations Page, and click on the appropriate tab.

• Students may possess and use federal Food and Drug Administration regulated over-the-counter sunscreen at school and at school-based events

• Any student, parent, or guardian requesting a school board employee to apply sunscreen to a student shall present to the nurse a Parent Prescriber Authorization Form (PPA) containing a parent or guardian signature. A physician signature or physician order shall not be required

For more information, view applicable law documents at ALSDE Health Laws & Policies.

Calhoun County Schools follows the CDC's respiratory virus isolation guidance for illness such as Covid-19, Influenza (flu), and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

For respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19, flu, or RSV, individuals may return to school and normal activities if the following is true for at least 24 hours: symptoms have mostly resolved with overall improvement and if a fever was present, the fever has been gone without use of fever-reducing medication.

Please reach out to your school nurse with any questions as to when your child can return to school and other school sponsored activities.

For more information, please see the CDC website pages regarding Covid-19, Influenza (Flu), and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)