June 17, 2009

(McClatchy-Tribune Information Services) -- This fall, getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu might be as simple as going back to school.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that school-age children may be the first priority for vaccinations and that schools might be the place to provide shots.

"If you think about vaccinating kids, schools are the logical place," she said.

Health officials say vaccinating children would be an important step toward curbing the spread of the flu. Youngsters don't always cover their mouths when they cough, wash their hands or take other precautions.

"If we can do a good job protecting kids, that will help protect adults," said Dr. Kari Simonsen, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

About half of the world's more than 140 known H1N1 deaths have occurred in young people who were previously healthy, the World Health Organization says.

Of Nebraska's 71 cases of H1N1 flu, the patients' median age was 14.

It was unclear whether the federal government would require vaccination of schoolkids. Health officials in Nebraska and Iowa said Tuesday that they had not seen many details.

School officials in the Omaha and Millard districts said they are open to helping out.

"We will do whatever we can to keep kids healthy," said Sharon Wade, supervisor of health services for the Omaha Public Schools.

Children in Nebraska are required to be immunized for such illnesses as measles, but parents can opt out in certain circumstances. The vaccine for the regular seasonal flu is voluntary.

Last week, the World Health Organization formally dubbed the virus a pandemic, meaning it is circulating the globe unchecked. The United States is developing a vaccine that could be given in addition to regular winter-flu shots.

Although the H1N1 flu doesn't seem any more lethal than the regular flu, scientists fear that it might morph into a more dangerous strain.