A Palermo middle school teacher wanted to help her students stay healthy, by offering extra credit for getting vaccinated against swine flu. But parent Christi Nelson says that's unfair to families who have chosen not to have their children vaccinated. "It shouldn't be left up to kids, should be parents decision whether want child to have h1n1 and not pressure put on them and not something that should be in the academic classroom at all."
When Action News contacted Principal Kathy Coleman, she told us it's the first she had heard of the incident, and that in no way would the school support extra credit for flu shots. "That's individual decision on parents part and parent needs to make what choice is best for student, is not district endorsed policy."
Even as this story was unfolding, there were parents and children lining up at another school just up the road...for swine flu immunizations offered through the health department.
Annette Stumbaugh was there with her 7th grade son, "Oh there's concerns, but think it's worth it, definitely."
But parents like Christi Nelson say there are still too many unanswered questions, "I've never vaccinated kids for flu, not a problem. not issue for us. We go over wash your hands, don't share drinks, that kind of stuff."
After my stop at Palermo School, Nelson got a call from her son's teacher apologizing, saying she would rescind the offer for extra credit.
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