The vaccine for swine flu, or H1N1, is coming to Cayuga County schools in the form of free walk-in vaccination clinics for school-aged children and staff members who are in “high-risk” categories.

The clinics are not open to the public, but students who attend parochial or private schools in the county can get the vaccine at their home district's location, according to the Cayuga County Department of Health. A clinic is currently scheduled for each school district, but clinics are contingent on vaccine supply, according to the department of health.

The vaccine is not mandated by the government, but is recommended for school-aged children, one of the priority categories. Students can only attend the clinic at the time and on the date scheduled for their district. There is no pre-registration required to get the vaccine in Cayuga County.

Students from pre-kindergartners to high school seniors will be invited to get the vaccine, as long as supplies are available, said Deanna Hoey, public health educator with the department of health. Parents will need to sign a consent form in order for their children to receive the vaccine. Sample consent forms, the clinic schedule and other H1N1 information can be found on the Cayuga County Department of Health's Web site, http://co.cayuga.ny.us/hhs/doh/index.htm.

With a limited supply, school-age children are first to get the vaccine because they are within a priority group - people between six months and 24 years of age - as defined by the U.S. government. Hoey said public clinics will most likely be scheduled in December, once the priority and high-risk groups are vaccinated and pending vaccine availability. She advised the general public to check with their health care providers to see if the vaccine is available there.

“If providers have it available,” said Hoey, “people should get it.”

Hoey said that local schools are not keeping an exact count of flu cases among students. Even though there have been recent spikes in school absences and H1N1 is believed to be “out there,” Hoey said these absences could be due to any illness or condition that has flu-like symptoms, so it is difficult to know which students are out with H1N1. Hoey said H1N1 has been widespread throughout Cayuga County, but that people's symptoms have not been extremely serious.

“Most people (in the county) have mild symptoms,” Hoey said. “Nationwide, it hasn't gotten to the point where it's severe.”

Jordan-Elbridge and Skaneateles schools will be covered by the Onondaga County Department of Health, said Hoey. Students in these schools will need to be registered for their clinic online at the schools' Web sites. The two districts will share a clinic from 4 to 9 p.m. Nov. 16 at Elbridge Elementary School, according to the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District's Web site.

Hoey said personnel at her department will do their best to inform people as soon as possible if any clinics must be rescheduled due to a vaccine shortage. Any schools that have to reschedule their clinics will notify parents. County residents with concerns or questions can call the department of health at 253-1560 or the flu hotline at 253-1157.

Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net

• Nov. 12 - Moravia School District (2:30 to 8 p.m.) Moravia High School Board of Education Room

• Nov. 16 - Cato-Meridian School District (2:30 to 8 p.m.) Cato Middle School Gymnasium

• Nov. 16 - Auburn elementary schools (3:30 to 8 p.m.) Seward Elementary School Gymnasium

• Nov. 17 - Weedsport School District (2:30 to 8 p.m.) Weedsport High School Cafeteria

• Nov. 17 - Southern Cayuga School District (2:30 to 8 p.m.) Southern Cayuga High School Cafeteria

• Nov. 18 - Port Byron School District (2:30 to 8 p.m.) Port Byron High School Auditorium

• Nov. 18 - Union Springs School District (2:30 to 8 p.m.) Union Springs Middle/High School Auditorium

• Nov. 19 - Auburn middle schools and high school (2:30 to 8 p.m.) Auburn High School Cafeteria