Cooper Elementary Students Get Vaccinated Against H1N1

TULSA, OK -- The Tulsa Health Department held its first school clinic inside a Tulsa Public School.

More than half the students at Cooper Elementary lined up to get the vaccine Tuesday.

Cooper Elementary is one of 19 schools in Tulsa that the health department will be visiting. Health officials say the schools were chosen because the student body is at higher risk because of physical disabilities or health concerns.
 
No student is required to get it the vaccine and if they do, parents can choose the shot or nasal spray.

"It was a parent choice and so parents choose, chose whether they wanted their student to have a shot. Just like it was my choice whether to or not, I have the band-aid to prove it," said Barbara Penrose, Cooper Elementary principal.

The Tulsa Health Department will be at two more schools this week.

11/1/2009 Related Story: Tulsa Health Department To Vaccinate Hundreds Of Students Against H1N1

The state health department is planning a vaccination blitz at several locations across the state Saturday.

11/2/2009 Related Story: H1N1 Vaccinations Given In Mayes Co. During Walk-In Clinic

For more information about the availability of H1N1 influenza vaccine in your area, call your local county health department or visit http://www.ok.gov/health/, or call the Oklahoma State Department of Health toll-free H1N1 hotline at: 1-866-278-7134. Phones are answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.