LEWISTON — There was a different feel to Farwell Elementary School on Monday, the first day Lewiston students received shots in school.

The music room was turned into a clinic. Lines of students stood outside waiting. Inside was a check-off table and three stations where nurses administered flu shots.

Saying those under age 24 are vulnerable to the looming H1N1, health officials are recommending all Maine schools provide the regular seasonal flu shots, followed by H1N1 shots. It’s the first time in decades vaccines have been given on such a wide scale.

Parental demand for the free shots is high statewide. Out of 190,000 Maine students, about 166,000 are expected to receive vaccines, much higher than earlier predictions that one-third of students would receive shots at school.

Demand is so high, some school clinics may have to be delayed to allow time for more vaccine to be shipped, said David Connerty-Marin, director of communications for the Maine Department of Education.

At Farwell on Monday there were no tears from the fifth- and sixth-graders, but many were uncomfortable with what was to come. “I don’t like needles,” Marcus Strickland said.

There was some crying from preK-1 students. Most recovered quickly, or took the shots in stride.

Brea Mathieu, 5, was in the latter camp. She strutted to the chair and sat down, smiling as she faced the nurse with the needle. Brea proclaimed she was a veteran, having had “six shots” this summer from her doctor.

She received her shot without fear, wearing her bandage like a trophy. Afterward, she was rewarded with a sticker and animal crackers.

Brea didn’t cry, “because I’m brave,” and proceeded to show off another battle scar: “I have a boo boo right here,” she said, pointing to a bandaged knee.

Nearby first-grader Grace stood close to her mother, Megon Grimmel. “She was nervous and asked that I come in,” the mother said.

As the nurse prepared her shot, Grace sat on her mother’s lap. At the sight of the needle Grace cried. “This won’t take two seconds,” the nurse said. “My name’s Nina. What’s your name sweetheart?”

When the needle went in, Grace’s mother comforted her with a hug and a kiss. It was over quickly. “You did great,” the nurse said.

A few minutes later Grace smiled when her mother said they were having lunch together in the cafeteria. “I love you, Mom,” the little girl said.

With health officials warning about outbreaks of the flu and H1N1, Grimmel said she approved of shots in school.

“It’s important,” Grimmel said. “It’s all in the children’s best interest. I work for a large employer in town. The flu passes through so quickly.”

After their shots, students were escorted to a nearby room where they were watched for 15 minutes.

“I’m looking for swelling and redness, reaction of the site,” said volunteer Scott Bouchard, who works as a medical lab technician at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford. Swelling is considered a minor reaction. If reaction progressed to impact the respiratory system, “we’d have to intervene” with medical care, he said.

“So far all we’ve had is a little bit of redness, the usual you would expect,” Bouchard said. “Most are coming in all smiles. They’re doing wonderfully. It’s going smoother than we expected.”

Farwell Principal Linda St. Andre agreed. “It went very well. We had so many volunteers. The nurses did a fantastic job setting everything up.”

Officials expected a third of the students to receive shots in school. About 200 students received shots Monday at Farwell, which is more than half of the school’s 375 population.

Among the volunteers were 13 students from the Lewiston Regional Technical Center’s nursing assistant classes, who were helping with the youngest students.

“You hold their hand, tell them it’s going to be OK,” Ariel Dalessandris, a Oak Hill High School student.

Shots will be given Tuesday at Longley and Martel schools; Wednesday at Montello; Thursday at Geiger; Friday at MacMahon, and this and next week at Lewiston high and middle schools.

In Auburn flu shots for students will be Tuesday and Thursday at Edward Little High School.

H1N1 vaccines are expected to be available in October.

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Jada Alley, left, peeks around the partition to watch Debbie Bernier administer a flu shot to Sarah Caput, 10, at Farewell Elementary School in Lewiston on Monday morning. All of the Twin Cities schools are scheduled for flu shots this week or next.

Megon Grimmel reassures her daughter, Grace, 6, before she is given a flu shot at Farewell Elementary School on Monday morning.