Eight of nine Caledonia High School students are in good condition after suffering reactions to the H1N1 vaccine administered today.
All but one of the students had been treated and released from Baptist Memorial Hospital by 4 this afternoon. The status of the hospitalized student is unknown.
Two students complained of shortness of breath shortly after receiving the vaccine while the others may have experienced what Mississippi State Department of Health District 6 Health Officer Dr. Rebecca “Tree” James referred to as “sympathy reactions” or discomfort with no evidence of an allergic reaction.
Lowndes County School District Superintendent Mike Halford said the lone hospitalized student was taken to the hospital by a relative after leaving school. The rest were transported via ambulance directly from CHS.
MSDH reported just one other student has suffered a similar reaction among 10,000 students vaccinated in the state. Slight reactions are common, said James.
According to MSDH, problems from the vaccine can include soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling at the injection site, fainting, headache, fever or nausea. Life-threatening allergic reactions are rare.
More than 400 New Hope Middle and Elementary School students also received the vaccinations Wednesday with no reported problems. Likewise, students at four Columbus Municipal School District schools were administered vaccinations without incident.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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