H1N1 shots begin in schools

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Portsmouth became the first local city to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to students and staff at Hampton Roads public schools on Monday.

The Portsmouth Health Department brought in about ten kids at a time. "We've done that mainly to keep the chain effect of crying and hysteria down a little bit," said Senior Health Educator, Jessica Mullen.

WAVY.com visited Emily Spong Elementary, one of three schools with clinics Monday.

We talked to parents outside, including mom Yolanda Colbart who told us it was organized and she's relieved it's over.

Another mom said the nurses allowed parents or teachers to hold the children so that they were more at ease.

Portsmouth has scheduled clinics at three more schools Tuesday. They plan to reach all 24 schools.

Norfolk and Chesapeake schools start vaccine clinics Tuesday, Virginia Beach is scheduled to start Wednesday, Suffolk will start on Friday.

"That's the only way we're going to get on top of this flu is if we can get more children vaccinated and protected against this flu, [it] is the only way we're going to shut it down," said School Health Supervisor Fran Gray. "It's in all the schools; it's in the city of Portsmouth, [but] do we have an epidemic? No."

She hopes the vaccine clinics will keep it that way. Although some parents don't think it's necessary. Some said they're still not sure the vaccine is safe.

So while the health departments say there will be enough vaccine for all students, we still don't know how many will get it.