Oct 28, 2009 1:28 pm US/Eastern
Slow Start To Phase 1 Of NYC School Vaccinations
Voluntary Swine Flu Vaccine Available At 128 City Elementary Schools; At P.S. 157, Only 1 In 3 Consent Forms Filled Out
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Nasal spray doses of the H1N1/swine flu vaccine are shown at Montefiore Medical Center on Oct. 6, 2009, in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Thousands of New York City students spent Wednesday morning rolling up their sleeves. Swine flu vaccine are underway at dozens of schools around the city.
New York City health officials are hoping more than 60 percent of the city's students, both public and private, will be getting the swine flu vaccinations to prevent another heavy outbreak like the one the city saw last Spring. But at P.S. 157, the number is more like 30 percent.
9-year-old Jessica Osorio put on a brave face as she became the first girl in her fourth grade class to get the H1N1 vaccine, quickly followed by 9-year-old Felix Garcia.
Less than one-third of the parents at the small elementary school gave the okay for the swine flu vaccine, given both as a shot and nasal spray Wednesday. But school officials say they're not discouraged.
"We really encourage parents to get their children vaccinated," said Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. "We want people to get their consent forms done."
But not all parents are in agreement.
"I'd rather take them to my own doctor," said parent Rachel Morales.
While some parents opt for the pediatrician's office, others don't want any vaccine at all.
"I decided not to do it because I don't know about the side effects," added parent Andrea Bonilla.
"I would tell them it's perfectly safe, not to worry," said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, when asked what he would tell parents who were concerned about the vaccine.
Larger elementary schools will be getting the swine flu vaccine next week, with middle and high school students getting the vaccine at 58 weekend clinics starting in mid-November.
Q&A: What Is Swine Flu?
Flu.gov: Know What To Do
CDC H1N1 Flu Info Guide
Learn At Home Student Guides
NYC.gov Swine Flu Information Guides
CBS News Interactive: Fighting The Flu
H1N1 Vaccine Info For NYC Schoolchildren
Call NY's H1N1 Hotline: 1-800-808-1987
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CBS News Interactive: H1N1 Virus
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