Middle school investigates flu shot

Middle school investigates flu shot
By Tanya Sierra, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Monday, January 25, 2010 at 1:20 p.m.

SAN YSIDRO— The San Ysidro School District is investigating how a 13-year-old middle school student received the H1N1 flu vaccination last week over her objections and against the will of her parents.

Jose Gomez, 39, said he signed a form last November stating his daughter, a student at San Ysidro Middle School, was not to get a shot and reaffirmed that position to two people last week. The school provided vaccinations on Thursday.

District Nurse Anita Gillchrest said she investigated the incident and has forwarded a report to Superintendent Manuel Paul, but she said she could not reveal the details.

Gomez said San Ysidro Middle School officials insisted he sign a consent form even though he did not want his daughter to receive the vaccination. He said he was instructed to write “refuse” on the form and turn it in, which he did.

Nonetheless, his daughter was pulled from class to get the vaccination. She advised the security guard who escorted her to the vaccination area that she was not supposed to get the shot and was told that maybe “her mom changed her mind,” Gomez said.

The girl also told the woman providing the vaccines from the county health department that she was not supposed to receive the shot, Gomez said.

“According to their safety guidelines, if any child said ‘No,’ they were supposed to contact the parent,” Gomez said. “My daughter said no and they didn’t bother to contact me or my wife.”

Gomez said he did not want his daughter to receive the vaccination because he did not know what the solution contained and because his youngest daughter has allergic reactions to vaccinations.

“I didn’t want to risk it,” Gomez said. “Everyone gives you a different story about this vaccine and it’s scary.”