Free Vaccines - Including Controversial HPV - Hitting Select Seventh-Grade Classrooms

Oxford Middle School is one of 18 schools that will offer free vaccines to its seventh-graders this fall. The program is not mandatory.

For a few select schools in Mississippi, free immunizations are heading to 7th-grade classrooms this fall. MPB’s Cari Gervin has the story.

The pilot vaccination program is a partnership between the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two schools in each of the state’s nine public health districts have been chosen to participate.

If they get their parents’ permission, the seventh graders can get the booster shot for tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, the vaccine for meningitis and the seasonal flu shot.

Girls will also be offered the HPV vaccine, which prevents a sexually-transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. The vaccine has drawn criticism nationally in some circles for its side effects. Others feel it encourages promiscuity because it prevents a sexually transmitted disease.

Ruth Ann Robbins is with the Oxford School District – Oxford Middle School was one of the schools selected. She says so far, no parents have complained.

“I have not heard any discussion about it promoting sexual activity among our youth. I have heard conversations about it being an opportunity to prevent cervical cancer.”

Renee Dayan is a the mother of one of the 250 seventh-graders at Oxford Middle School. She also teaches there. She says she might wait on the HPV vaccine until her daughter Connie is a little bit older, but she thinks the program will help many families.

“You know, it’s easier to have something come to you than to go seek something out, even though it is available at the health department.”

While this vaccine program is limited for right now, the Department of Health’s Dr. Paul Byers says every student will have the chance to get at least one vaccine this year.

“Once the novel H1N1 vaccine is available, we will offering that to as many schools statewide as we can.”

Byers said he expects the swine flu vaccine will be available in schools late this fall. For MPB News, I’m Cari Gervin in Oxford.