Information for Parents:

MDCH Handout for K-12 schools on flu vaccines

MDCH Handout for preschools and day cares on flu vaccines

Children, the Flu, and the Flu Vaccine

More information for parents and families

Information for Schools:

Seasonal Flu Information for Schools & Childcare Providers

Preventing the Spread of Flu in Child Care Settings: Guidance for Administrators, Care Providers, and Other Staff

Flu Questions & Answers for Schools

Utilize materials in the Michigan Schools Pandemic Planning Workbook & Online Toolkit for Educators to prepare schools for seasonal flu.

Other Facts:

• Every year, more than 164 million school days are lost due to illness.(National Health Interview Survey, 1995)
• Approximately 1/5 of the U.S. population attends or works in schools. (U.S. Dept of Ed, 1999)
• Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. (Ansari, 1988; Scott and Bloomfield, 1989)
• Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our youth, our schools, and our nation.
• Students need to get plenty of sleep and physical activity, drink water, and eat good food to help them stay healthy in the winter and all year