Clinton Students Receive Swine Flu Shots

Devin, a first grader at Clinton Park Elementary braces himself for the "BIG STICK."

Swine flu shots remain in demand across the state with some clinics temporarily running out of the vaccine. But the supply has been plentyful in the Clinton School District where yesterday they began mass inoculating students. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.

About a sixth of the district's more than 4,600 students have received permission to get the vaccine. But that's not enough to convince this Clinton Park Elementary kindergartner that she needs it.
(Sfx: crying)
A little coaching is all it took for seven year old Devin to roll up his sleeve and take the H1N1 shot like a pro. Devin’s grandmother, Lisa Scott is a diabetic and will also be getting the shot.

“Actually I wasn’t gonna get it cause I was kinda scared of it and then I talked to their pediatrician, they said it was really good for ‘em. So I think really the school doing it is what boost us to do it.”

The H1N1 vaccines were donated by the Mississippi Department of Health. And more than 20 Mississippi College student nurses administered the shots. Renee Cole is the nurse instructor.

“This is a great turnout but honestly I wish there had been more. There are 700 in this school and only 245 are having the vaccination. And I wish that we did have more just to help control the disease as it is gonna spread. But if I had to say anything I would tell parents to make sure that they reinforce to their children that they need to wash their hands regularly.”

The department of health says it will provide the vaccine to about 500 thousand Mississippi students over the next few weeks. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.