COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Vaccination clinics similar to those held during the polio epidemic are coming to Central Ohio.
Letters from school districts were distributed to parents on Friday, offering the H1N1 vaccine for free to all who want it.
The Franklin County Board of Health estimates it will need more than 150,000 doses of the vaccine to inoculate all school-aged children in the county.
Officials said they hope to start the clinics the first week in November.
County and Columbus Public Health officials began making plans for the pandemic flu clinics during the summer.
Soon, parents in all public, private and charter schools, as well as those who home school their children, will be asked to provide information that will assist healthcare workers in administering the vaccine safely.
"There is a screening tool that says, 'What does your child have? What about this?' They go through the screening tool to make sure the type of vaccine that they are giving that day is appropriate for that child," said Franklin County Board of Health Commissioner Susan Tilgner.
Children in elementary schools will get the vaccine first, followed by middle and high school students.
The after-school clinics will also vaccinate pregnant women, children between the ages of six months and preschool and caregivers of children under the age of six months.
Family members of children suffering from a chronic illness can also receive the vaccine during that time.
Elementary school children will need a second dose of the vaccine.
Health officials said they will need volunteers to conduct the clinics. So, parents, teachers and school nurses are being asked to volunteer.
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