By Shannon Fiecke and Pat Minelli, Staff Writers

Public health nurses expect to begin vaccinating Scott County children for the H1N1 virus in school-based clinics the week of Nov. 16. Because of limited supplies, not all schools will receive vaccines immediately, however.

Nurses will first vaccinate kindergartners and then finish other elementary grades before moving to middle schools, junior highs and, finally, high schools.

“We will get more vaccine around Thanksgiving to continue the process in schools,” Scott County Public Health Director Jennifer Deschaine told county commissioners on Tuesday. Details are still being worked out, but the county hopes to have informational letters and consent forms prepared in multiple languages for parents by the end of this week.

The county has almost used up its first batch of vaccine for the inoculation of health care providers and first responders. This week the county began dispensing a second batch of vaccine for other priority groups: pregnant women, infant caregivers, children 6 months to 4 years of age and youths with chronic disease.

The county is holding a couple vaccination clinics this week.  It mailed letters to day care providers, but didn’t publicize the clinics because of limited supplies. The county may do more clinics next week if it still has vaccine left.

Some vaccine was also shared with four clinics in the county that serve a lot of children and pregnant women, Deschaine said. Other clinics were able to get some vaccine through their health systems.

Doses are being sent to counties randomly. “So until we receive it, we don’t know the exact types and amounts,” Deschaine said. “We will be getting vaccine every week until we have enough to cover everyone.”

School vaccination is not mandatory.  However, Scott County Public Health does urge parents to strongly consider vaccinating children against the novel H1N1 influenza virus, which has been shown to be particularly virulent among young people.

People suspected of contracting H1N1, but whose illnesses are not confirmed through testing, are encouraged to still get the vaccine, once it’s available.

“There are other viruses circulating out there and we don’t know for sure it’s H1N1 because many of the symptoms are similar,” Deschaine said.

The county is receiving more nasal sprays than shots, so it is pushing people to take the spray if they are between the ages of 2 and 49. The Minnesota Department of Health also sent a shipment of anti-viral medication to the county.Snyder Drug in Shakopee is one of two area pharmacies charged with distributing these free anti-viral medications to uninsured people who call a state flu helpline.

Other flu news

On Monday, St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee and 10 other Allina Hospitals began implementing even tighter visiting hours than were put in place Oct. 21 to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.

The latest restrictions involve all units in the hospital, not just birth and pediatric units included in the previous announcement.

General visiting hours will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at all sites. However, birth centers and pediatric departments will continue to observe visiting hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Children under the age of 16 will not be allowed to visit, with the exception of family members ages 5-11. No one under the age of 5 will be allowed to visit.

Also, visitors to pediatric and birth departments will be asked to sign in and complete a “wellness screening” prior to visiting patients. Those who exhibit flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to visit patients.