MOJAVE UNIFIED TO IMMUNIZE 3,000 STUDENTS : DISTRICT TO COUNTER HEPATITIS THREAT.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Immunization of all 3,000 students in the Mojave Unified School District against hepatitis A is scheduled to begin Jan. 15.

The vaccinations - available to children ages 2 to 18 - will be done at the district's schools, and permission will be required from parents and guardians who will be receiving a packet of information containing a consent form.

``It's a once in a lifetime opportunity,'' said Steven Terrell-Perica, assistant director for disease control with the Kern County Health Department. ``It's not a cheap vaccine, but it's being offered free in a collaboration between the district and the Kern County Health Department.''

Kern County health officials announced plans to immunize the children after 14 cases of the disease were reported in the California City area since June, and a Nov. 26 incident at Robert P. Ulrich Elementary School in which a mother found out she was infected with hepatitis A after cooking turkey for a class party.

No other cases of infection have been reported from the school incident, Terrell-Perica said.

Vaccinations will be offered:

Jan. 15 from 8 a.m. to noon at Mojave Elementary School and at the campus' Mojave Head Start office.

Jan. 21 from 8 a.m. to noon at Joshua Middle School and from 2 to 5 p.m. at Mountain View High and Douglas high schools.

Jan. 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mojave High School.

Jan. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon at California City Middle School.

Jan. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to noon for students on tracks A, B and D at Robert P. Ulrich Elementary School.

Feb. 10 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. for track C students at Ulrich school, and from 1 to 2 p.m. at Red Rock Elementary School.

The vaccinations are the first in a series of three doses that will be given over a five-month period. The second dose of vaccinations is expected to be given in February or March, and the third some time in May, Terrell-Perica said.

``Three doses are needed for full protection,'' Terrell-Perica said.

After the Nov. 26 incident, Mojave district officials said they were reconsidering their practice of allowing home-cooked foods at class parties.

Superintendent Wallace McCormick said in early December that he will ask principals to review with their staffs, teachers, school site councils, student councils and parent organizations whether new regulations are needed.

The options could include new policies, regulations or rules at individual schools, a written statement issued by the district said.

The Antelope Valley's largest elementary school districts say they prohibit or discourage the serving of homemade food at classroom parties.

Lancaster and Palmdale school district officials say they have written policies prohibiting the practice, and Westside Union School District administrators say they strongly discourage it, though there is no formal district policy.

Causing an inflammation of the liver, hepatitis A is highly infectious, carried in the feces and spread through poor hygiene habits. It is rarely fatal and the vast majority of people with hepatitis A recover completely.

Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dark-color urine, yellowing or jaundicing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and extreme fatigue, officials said.

Some infected individuals show no symptoms, experts say.