H1N1 Vaccinations Begin At Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Hundreds of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students are being vaccinated against the H1N1 virus on Monday.

Health officials are targeting the most at-risk students first, meaning the youngest CMS students will be first to get the vaccines. In order to get full protection, children under the age of 10 will get a second shot next month at the same time that older students are getting vaccinated.

Eyewitness News asked whether there will be enough shots for students.

“One thing the (Centers for Disease Control) has assured is that as long as there’s a need, they’re going to continue to produce the vaccine. So, our hopes are that we’ll be able to get all of the population of students who desire to receive the vaccine at the school,” said Mona McGruder, school program coordinator for the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

At Billingsville Elementary School in southeast Charlotte, about 300 students received either the shot or nasal spray vaccine. Officials said their health information determined which vaccine they received.

CMS broken to six areas and each day health officials will make sure a school from each learning community is covered. About 1,500 students district-wide are expected to be vaccinated Monday.

In addition to Billingsville, J.H. Gunn, Starmont and Hidden Valley elementary schools, along with Tryon Hills and Amay James preschools, kicked off the first round of vaccinations.

Only students whose parents have signed the permission slips will receive the vaccine. The program is voluntary.

CMS administrators said they hope more parents will go to their own doctor and use the school's vaccines as a last alternative. Only about 25 percent of the student population is expected to get the vaccine through the school clinics.

Anyone who wants to volunteer at a school to help with the vaccination clinics can visit CMS Volunteers and Partners or call Phyllis Croutch in the Office of Volunteers and Partnerships at 980-343-6618.