(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Aches, congestion and overall misery of influenza inevitably will visit campuses again this year. Fortunately, Madison City Schools students can get a jump-start to prevent preventing a bout with the flu.

During the first week of school, students received consent forms and an information sheet for the upcoming “Teach Flu A Lesson” flu mist clinics, scheduled for Sept. 16.

“Last year, 1,357 students in the Madison system took advantage of the ‘Teach Flu A Lesson.’ There were no adverse reactions to the flu mist,” Bonnie Davis said. Davis, a registered nurse, is nursing supervisor for Madison City Schools and nurse at Bob Jones High School.

A health professional will administer the vaccine with a small spray in the nostrils, instead of an injection.

This year’s flu mist formula will contain two strains each of Type A and Type B and is preservative-free. “The flu mist is 54 percent more effective, less invasive and lasts longer than the flu shot,” Davis said. “There’s one in a trillion chance of someone getting the flu from flu mist, but chances of a student getting the flu from the sick student sitting next to him is one in seven.”

Student families will not pay out-of-pocket costs for flu mist. Students without insurance can receive the flu mist free. Parents with health insurance should answer details on consent forms.

Deadline for returning consent forms will be Sept. 13. “Take a moment to review those forms, sign them and turn them back in at your school before the Sept. 13 deadline. Waiting runs the risk of missing the deadline or misplacing the paperwork,” public relations manager John Peck said.

“The complete consent should be turned in to your child’s homeroom or to school nurses,” Davis said. “Please take advantage of this opportunity so that your child can avoid missing school due to the flu.”

For more information, visit madisoncity.k12.al.us and click “Health Services.”