Pandemic Influenza
Schools
A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity.
Because influenza is easily spread from person to person, schools need to have continuing access to the best guidance, strategies, practices and tools that may help delay or prevent the spread of disease until a vaccine is available.
School Action Guide
The Vermont Departments of Health and Education are developing the School Action Guide for use by primary and secondary schools to plan for and respond to pandemic flu.
A DRAFT version of the guide is now available for review and public comment.
Contact Us with your comments and suggestions.
Put "School Action Guide" in the subject heading.
View and Print the Guide by Section
- SECTION I: Cover and Introduction
143 KB, 2 pgs - SECTION II: Pandemic Flu, Community Mitigation & School Closure
90 KB, 4 pgs - SECTION III: Pandemic Flu Preparedness — State-Level Actions
60 KB, 5 pgs - SECTION IV: Pandemic Response Phases at a Glance
43 KB, 3 pgs - SECTION V: Guidance for Pandemic Flu School Preparedness
217 KB, 37 pgs - School Action Guide Planning Checklist - 47 KB, 4 pgs
View and Print Entire Guide
- Pandemic Flu School Action Guide - 552 KB, 51 pgs
- School Action Guide Planning Checklist - 47 KB, 4 pgs
School Action Kit
Posters
Achoo! - poster for schools, daycares, etc. on good health manners and respiratory etiquette; 8.5 x 11, 249 KB
Planning Checklists
These checklists detail the steps that schools and child care providers can take to plan for and respond to pandemic flu.
- Child Care and Pre-Schools (pdf)
- K-12 School Districts (pdf)
- Colleges and Universities (pdf)
More Resources for Schools
Panflu.gov - School Planning
U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information and materials to help local educational agencies with plans to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic.
The U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture provide tools to assist schools with disseminating health information, and planning for staff and student absences:
Pandemic Flu: A Planning Guide for Educators
Identifies issues to consider when planning for seasonal flu, a mild or moderate pandemic flu, or a severe pandemic. It tells what a "flu pandemic" is, how influenza spreads, and what can be done to limit spread of the flu.
Guidance for Educators During Severe Pandemic (pdf)
Guidance for educators and school officials focusing on implications of the type of prolonged school closure that is recommended for severe pandemics. Guidance is in question-answer format.
Understanding Avian Influenza Lesson Plan (pdf) 7.42 MB
Resource for teaching high school biology students about avian influenza, specifically highly pathogenic H5N1.