Germ Fighters Student Illness Prevention Program
A Good Idea
Description
The 2003-2004 flu season had the potential to cause severe morbidity and mortality due to cases seen early in the fall, widespread vaccine shortage, and antigenic drift between the vaccine strain and circulating strain. In response to the potential for a severe flu season, a pilot flu prevention program called Germ Fighter was initiated in a Johnson County elementary school. The school participated in disease prevention educational activities, and began using ethanol based hand sanitizer.
Goal / Mission
The overall objective of the program is to reduce student absence due to communicable illness.
Results / Accomplishments
Rates of absence due to communicable illness were recorded at the school conducting the intervention and then compared to the rates of absence due to illness at a school with similar characteristics. The interventions used in this study were successful in reducing the incidence of student absence due to illness at the pilot school.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Johnson County Public Health
Primary Contact
Ralph Wilmoth, Director
Johnson County Public Health
1105 Gilbert Ct.
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 356-6040
http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_health.aspx?id=...
Johnson County Public Health
1105 Gilbert Ct.
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 356-6040
http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_health.aspx?id=...
Topics
Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Health / Children's Health
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Johnson County Public Health
Source
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Date of publication
2005
Date of implementation
2003
Location
Johnson County, IA
For more details
Target Audience
Children