HILO — The state Department of Health will not provide free vaccinations against influenza at private schools this year.
Health officials said in a Thursday announcement that Stop Flu at School will continue to be offered at all elementary and intermediate public schools in the counties of Hawaii, Kauai and Maui, and select schools on Oahu. But private schools no longer will be included.
Private schools now must decide whether to ask parents to have their children vaccinated or to set up new vaccination partnerships.
“We have informed our families of DOH’s decision and encouraged them to contact their health care provider or pharmacy,” Dr. Kenneth Fink, Malama Ola director for Kamehameha Schools, said in a statement. “However, KS has and will continue to vaccinate all boarding students on its Kapalama campus located on Oahu.”
There are 3,580 private school students on the Big Island and 36,724 statewide, according to the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.
The biggest challenge of the loss of the vaccination program for independent schools, said Deanna D’Olier, director of programs and services for the association, will be ensuring that families and educators know the program has ended.
She said private schools have lots of autonomy.
“They pretty much come up with their own policies as to how to handle any of these types of things,” she said.
Michael Rockers, superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools, said he notified schools after being informed in July of the development by the Department of Health.
There are almost 9,000 students in the Catholic school system statewide, including more than 300 at St. Joseph School in Hilo, Rockers said.
How each school responds to the loss of the Stop Flu at School vaccination program will be locally determined, Rockers said.
“The various locations for our 35 Catholic schools are doing different things,” he said.
One, for example, had previously partnered with a community pharmacy to provide the vaccinations and will probably continue this year, Rockers said.
Overall student vaccination rates in Hawaii have generally exceeded 90 percent.
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.