"Other states haven't done something like this," said Gov. Linda Lingle, referring to the fact that two years ago, Hawai'i became the first state to offer free flu vaccine to elementary and middle school students statewide.
"That's why we're so well positioned for the H1NI (swine flu)" vaccination campaign, Lingle said.
The governor was at the school in part to remind students that their parents would soon be receiving another consent form — this one for the H1N1 vaccination program. Lingle encouraged students and parents to read the forms and, if they are comfortable with it, to sign it and mail it back.
Lingle also reminded the students that it's important to be vaccinated for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu strains.
Eventually, she said, the Department of Health and the Hawai'i National Guard would be administering swine flu vaccine to the general public statewide.
"It's not just going to be children, or course," Lingle said. "It will be everybody."
Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist, said the percentage of student participation has increased with each school vaccination clinic program.
"Based on our consent reviews, there definitely seems to be an increased interest among the kids," Park said. "And among the adults as well, actually. Because we also offer vaccinations to the school staff and faculty."
Last year, the total came to 62,000 students and 9,500 staff and teachers.
"I can tell you that in past years we have vaccinated about 43 percent of the kids in Hawai'i ages 5 to 15. And it looks like we will definitely surpass that this year."
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