July 10, 2009 Summer camps take precautions against swine flu Play video

(NECN: Ally Donnelly, Bolton, Mass.) - The motto of Camp Resolute in Bolton, Massachusetts, is as it is for all Boy Scout camps, be prepared.

Rick, camp director: Biggest concern is to make sure our campers who come here to camp are safe and we're doing everything we can to protect them.

Protect them from the swine flu. Fear of the H1N1 virus has shuttered camps throughout the Commonwealth this summer. Close quarters and germy kids -- hog heaven for the spread of bacteria.

The seasonal flu typically attacks the elderly most severely, but, for some reason, the swine flu strain is hitting school age kids the hardest.

Now it may be for the benefit of the cameras...

But the scouts were clamoring for hand sanitizer after lunch. Like several others -- camp resolute is following prevention guidelines from the state department of public health.

Rick: Our health officers will go up to the camp site and check the scouts' temperatures.

They are actively screening campers, promoting good cough etiquette and encouraging what dr. Jennifer smith calls the holy grail of health hygiene.

Dr. Smith: Some camps are doing hand washing contests or giving points for hand washing, to make it more fun and routine as part of the day.

But summer camp may not be the biggest concern. Public health officials are trying to figure out how to vaccinate children in a mass campaign that hasn't been seen since the polio vaccinations of the 1950s.

Dr.

Dr Smith says the Bay State needs to prepare for what could be a serious outbreak in the fall.

And though the swine flu vaccine is still under development, it should be ready by the fall. Kids will likely need two separate vaccinations.

Buck up campers. That second shot, perhaps not cool. But doctors -- perhaps critical in preventing another pandemic.