First up for Mahoning County's H1N1 school-based clinics is South Range.
"I think one of the good things about being first is that their should be ample vaccine for our student population," Superintendent Dennis Dunham said.
About 1,500 students could potentially get the shot on Wednesday. Then on Thursday, Springfield Local will take its turn.
But before the 1,100 students line up, plans need to be finalized. From enough chairs to plenty of volunteers, some school districts in Mahoning County had only a few weeks to pull all their resources together.
Springfield Local Superintendent Debra Mettee said, "First of all, its facilities and knowing what other events were going on the exact same time, using our facilities. And then it was a matter of how many personnel that we needed and those who were gonna administer the vaccine. Then we needed a lot of volunteers to help us."
As officials organize the more than 80 volunteers, inquiring parents keep the phone ringing, so much so the district designated a special line for H1N1-related questions. Those have ranged from the type of vaccine available, the shot or nasal spray, to who's eligible to get them.
"We're hoping they'll just come in and be understanding that we are one of the first clinics and we are doing the best we can," said School Nurse Susan Springer. "We are doing this for the children and by no circumstances do they have to come and get it."
Most school districts are requiring that a parent be present for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. High school students will just need a signed permission slip.
For more information on the dates of clinics set at Mahoning County schools, click on the link titled "H1N1 School Clinics" on the right hand side of this story.
