PRINCETON — Personnel with the Mercer County Health Department are continuing to visit county schools to offer H1N1 vaccinations to students who have parental permission.

On Thursday, the health department offered swine flu vaccinations at the county’s four high schools.

“So far, so good,” said Judy Bolton, RN, of the Mercer County Health Department. “We started Thursday. Right now, supplies are holding out well. There’s no reason to think we would not be able to get to all the schools.”

The vaccinations are for students who are enrolled at the schools. This applies even if a student resides in a neighboring county, Bolton said. Students must have a signed parental permission form before they are immunized.

Not all students who could take the vaccinations have chosen to do so. Health personnel took enough vaccine to high schools to serve half the student bodies, but only half of the vaccine was used, Bolton said.

“There is still a large number of students who could be taking advantage of the vaccinations who are not,” Bolton said. Health officials usually get a better response when immunizations are offered in elementary schools.

The method used to immunize a student will depend on his or her health. Children with asthma, diabetes or seizure disorders will receive a shot. Pregnant students will also receive a shot. Unless the child has any of these conditions, they will receive the flu mist vaccination. If a child has any chronic illnesses, parents should note this on their permission form.

Children who have been ill with flu-like symptoms should still be vaccinated unless tests have shown that the flu was H1N1, Administrator Melody Rickman, RN, BSN said in a letter to parents.

“Therefore, if you or your child were ill but do not know if you had the 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated if your doctor recommends it,” Rickman said. “Vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful.”

However, immunity from the H1N1 flu or a vaccination against it will not provide protection from seasonal flu, Rickman said. People who want protection from seasonal flu should still get a vaccination against it.

The program continues Nov. 17 at Athens, Bluewell, Brushfork and Montcalm elementary schools; Nov. 18, Princeton Primary, Bluefield Intermediate and Glenwood schools; Nov. 19, Bluefield Middle, Princeton Middle and Spanishburg schools; Nov. 20, Memorial and Whitethorn elementary schools; Nov. 23, at Melrose, Sun Valley and Mercer elementary schools; and Nov. 24 at Lashmeet/Matoaka, Oakvale and Straley elementary schools.

Vaccinations against the H1N1 flu are still being offered at the Mercer County Health Department’s headquarters in Green Valley.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com