Alachua County Public School students will have access to a cost-free and needle-free flu vaccine this year, thanks to a partnership between Alachua County Public Schools, the Alachua County Health Department and MedImmune, the manufacturer of the vaccine.

Letters are now being mailed home to the families of all elementary and middle school students to let them know that the FluMist vaccine is being offered free of charge at their child’s school. The vaccine will be administered in late October and in November up until the Thanksgiving Break.

Unlike the traditional flu shot, the FluMist vaccine is sprayed into the nose. School and health officials hope the painless vaccine will cut down on flu cases among children.

“Children often share germs easily in community spaces such as schools and playgrounds,” said Pat Hughes, Alachua County Public Schools’ director of health services. “If we can widely immunize our students, we think they’ll have a happier and healthier winter.”

It’s also expected that vaccinating students will reduce the incidence of flu throughout the community among adults. The Alachua County Health Department will be studying the impact of the immunization of school children on the entire population.

“When we vaccinate kids, they don’t bring the flu home to their families,” said Health Department Director Tom Belcoure. “What we want to know is how much disease we can eliminate throughout the county by immunizing children.”

During the next few days parents will also receive an information sheet about the FluMist vaccine and a consent form. Children will not be allowed to get FluMist without a signed consent form. The form will allow nurses to screen out those children who should not get the vaccine, such as those with asthma and other conditions.

Information about the FluMist vaccine, the parental consent form and a copy of the vaccination schedule is available on the district’s website at www2.sbac.edu. A link called ‘Free FluMist Vaccinations’ has been placed at the top of the site. Parents must turn in the consent forms to the school as soon as possible, at least one week before the vaccination will be given at their child’s school. That will allow nurses time to screen each form.

Parents wanting more information about the FluMist vaccination program can contact the Alachua County Health Department at 334-7950.