Kids from DVES get H1N1 flu shots

Michael Mason of Janelle Mang’s 6th grade reports the event Westfall — On Nov. 18 of last year, I was one of the 258 kids from Delaware Valley Elementary School who got the H1N1 shot. On Dec. 20, 160 of the kids, those who were under 10 years old, got a second shot. I only had to get one. When I got my shot, I was in my class when someone came to get anyone who had a permission slip for the shot. We went to the gym where there some kids watching a movie (Nimo) and some kids from another class were in a line to get the shot. There were four nurses giving shots on the other side of the curtain that divides our gym. One of the nurses was our school’s nurse, Mrs. (Donna) Polanis. When it was my turn, the nurses asked me to sit down. I closed my eyes, and the shot felt like a little pinch. The nurses were really nice. They put a Band Aid over the shot, and then they gave me a choice of a lollipop, pencil, eraser, or sticker. Then it was my turn to sit for a while and watch the movie. The reason we stayed to watch the movie just for a few minutes was to make sure everything was okay. Mrs. Polanis said everything went great, “Thanks to the awesome kids.” Mrs. Polanis told me there were many steps to take to get ready before the shots arrived at our school and before the shots were given. It took a lot of time, but it all went very smoothly. After the shots were finished, reports had to be filled with the Department of Health listing every shot that was given. Each child that received a shot was given a permanent immunization card to take home. It had the date of the vaccine and other information on it. My mom wanted me to get the shot to protect me from the H1N1. Hopefully I won’t ever get the H1N1.