Saturday's H1N1 Flu Clinics Focus on High Risk Groups

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City Public School officials said they hope this weekend's H1N1 flu clinic with help keep their attendance up.

Health officials said eventually there will be enough supply for anyone who wants an H1N1 vaccine, but for now the clinics are focusing on high risk groups.

"The most important goal is to vaccinate children," said Debbie Johnson, health services administrator for Oklahoma City Public Schools.

With that goal, the school district and the city county health department are teaming up to vaccinate those in priority groups, which includes school-age children in Pre-K through 12th grade, pregnant women and children 6 months to 18 years with underlying health conditions.

"This is a great plan that I think will reach the most students and the least barriers," Johnson said.

The school system hasn't seen a severe increase in absences with students having flu-like symptoms. Just this week the school district fared well with 93 percent of students in school, which is about the same numbers as this time last year.

"We're thinking that this hasn't really hit us yet and we're hoping that the H1N1 doesn't really have a dramatic effect on Oklahoma City schools. It hasn't yet and we've got our fingers crossed that it won't," said Karl Springer, Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent.

Health officials are ready with over 11,000 H1N1 flu vaccines this weekend and are expecting another 7,000 next week for private and medical providers. A strike team is also on standby armed with a vaccine supply for area schools with high absentee numbers.

However, one of the biggest concerns for parents has been whether the H1N1 flu shot is safe.

"The vaccine has been made exactly like seasonal flu vaccine. There's been no difference. It's perfectly safe. I just have no reservations about it," Johnson said.

The two H1N1 vaccine clinics are Saturday 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at US Grant High School and Southeast High School.