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Wellness and education all part of OSF plan for area youth

It’s not quite the peak of flu season yet, but OSF St. Mary’s Medical Center in Galesburg is taking steps for preventative measures with school children. According to a news release, The Kleine Pediatric Wellness Center is tapping a steering committee with representatives from the community, which has set goals and is now executing strategies. The most recent effort provided free flu vaccines to some elementary school children in Galesburg and surrounding rural areas. The committee’s goal is to reduce school absenteeism by two percent in the next couple of years. Director of Educational Resources at OSF St. Mary’s and RN Connie Wessels says flu immunizations targeted fourth and fifth graders. “Kids can actually get very very ill from the flu – very ill,” Wessels said. “So whatever we can do to prevent that from happening – that’s what we want to do.” OSF Galesburg Clinic and OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois are also providing input on programs that have a track record of successful outcomes. The steering committee also launched a pilot “Walking School Bus” that included recruiting and screening volunteers to walk students to school from one of two bus stops where parents dropped off children.

 

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