Health officials already seeing flu cases

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Even though many people are getting flu shots, health officials said they have already seen several flu cases, especially in the classroom.

Last year, Oklahoma City Public Schools had a horribly flu season with attendance from teachers, or lack thereof, very low. This year, they don't want to relive that experience.

"The subs weren't coming into school because they're afraid they might catch the flu," Oklahoma City Public Schools Health Official Debbie Johnson said.

So, for the first time in a decade, the Oklahoma City Public Schools is spending up to $60,000 to keep teachers, faculty and staff from getting sick. They're going from school to school giving flu shots to stay on the safe side.

"The flu for one, our children are our number one carriers of flu, so it puts our staff at risk right away, puts all of other children at risk," Johnson said.

It's not just children who are at risk. From teachers and bus drivers to librarians like Jan Green, they don't want to take any chances.

"I don't want to be sick, having the flu isn't any fun and we're around children all the time and we're around the population in general," Green said.

For Green, she hopes this will keep her healthy and free from the flu this season.

"If you can keep yourself from being sick and stay in work, it's that much better," Green said.

The school provided the last of their vaccinations Friday afternoon to their teachers and bus drivers.