PAHOA — The nerves kicked in as Sierra Pasion stood in line Wednesday, awaiting a flu shot. But a quick needle prick later, the 9-year-old Pahoa Elementary School fourth-grader was all done — and vaccinated.
“I thought it was going to hurt,” Sierra said afterward with a smile. “But it was just a little sting.”
Sierra was among about 50 Pahoa Elementary students participating in the state Department of Health’s annual Stop Flu at School program. The program vaccinates about 50,000 kindergarten to eighth-grade students for free each year against influenza at participating public, charter and private schools. The program got underway this week and continues through February.
As of Tuesday, about 1,300 Big Island students at 47 different schools were set to participate, said Ron Balajadia, DOH immunization branch chief. Statewide, that number was about 21,000, and most clinics stock extra vaccines in the event of late sign-ups, he said.
Participation overall is predicted to be lower this year because of a delay in implementation due to a statewide hepatitis A outbreak, which tied up DOH resources and staff. Most years, Stop Flu at School begins in October, the start of traditional flu season.
The DOH is aware of “definite cases” of the flu this year, Balajadia said, but as a whole, Hawaii tends to lag behind the mainland in its flu season peak because of its physical distance.
“(Whether it’s too late this year) we can’t really say,” Balajadia said. “But what we’re hoping is, a lot of the children here who really wanted to get vaccinated have gone to their pediatrician or doctors. We want to make sure every avenue for children to get vaccinated is taken by the parent.”
At Pahoa, participation also was lower — in past years, about 130 students took advantage of the free flu vaccine, school health aide Gerlinde Troy said.
Troy said she encouraged students this year to get vaccinated earlier by their doctors, if possible. Elementary-age students are particularly at risk because “everything goes in their noses and mouths and eyes” and they are “constantly touching everything,” she said.
“So, it’s very, very important for them to get vaccinated,” Troy said.
Sierra’s mom, Amber Pasion, agreed. She said she’s taken advantage of the clinic most years and so far it’s seemed to work — Sierra has yet to get the flu.
“I don’t have to make an appointment to take her to the doctor,” Pasion said. “So I kind of look forward to this every year.”
“It helps me to not get sick,” Sierra added.
For more information about the program, visit http://flu.hawaii.gov/sfas.html or call the Aloha United Way’s information and referral line at 211.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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Remaining Hawaii Island clinics:
Today Mountain View Elementary School
Today Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School
Friday Kamehameha Schools Hawaii
Monday Kalanianaole Elementary and Intermediate School
Tuesday Keonepoko Elementary School
Tuesday Parker School
Wednesday E.B. de Silva Elementary School
Jan. 26 Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School
Jan. 26 Honokaa Elementary School
Jan. 26 Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate School
Jan. 27 Honaunau Elementary School
Jan. 27 Keaau Middle School
Jan. 30 Ke Kula Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki Lab Public Charter School
Jan. 30 Keaau Elementary School
Jan. 31 Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School
Jan. 31 Waiakea Elementary School
Jan. 31 Waimea Country School
Feb. 1 Hilo Union Elementary School
Feb. 1 Innovations Public Charter School
Feb. 2 Naalehu Elementary and Intermediate School
Feb. 2 Waimea Elementary School
Feb. 3 Keaukaha Elementary School
Feb. 3 Ka Umeke Ka‘eo Public Charter School
Feb. 3 Kealakehe Elementary School
Feb. 7 Honokaa High and Intermediate School
Feb. 9 Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School
Feb. 14 Kealakehe Intermediate School
Feb. 17 Hookena Elementary School
Feb. 21 Kohala Elementary School
Feb. 24 Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino
Feb. 28 Hawaii Preparatory Academy
