PARIS — The Oxford Hills School District has not been affected by a nationwide delay in the manufacturing of additional seasonal flu vaccine, some of which was headed to Maine schools.

“That’s the benefit of having our clinics early,” said Head Nurse Ann Johnson the day after state officials told public and private schools that the arrival of additional seasonal vaccines would be delayed four to six weeks.

In a health alert to school administrators on Tuesday, Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron said they had just learned from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the seasonal flu vaccine manufacturers that the scheduled delivery for the remaining doses of seasonal flu vaccine would be delayed due in part to the prioritization of H1N1 vaccine.

The Oxford Hills School District recently received 1,470 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine for the eight school vaccine clinics that are being held this month. Hebron Elementary School was the first school in the district to hold the clinic. On Sept. 18 a total of 53 students out of about 120 students at the school were immunized.

“It went off without a hitch,” Superintendent Mark Eastman reported. About 50 of the 124 students at the Agnes Gray School were immunized next. At the middle school, 150 students signed up and received immunizations Tuesday. More clinics were being held throughout the week.

The vaccination is for seasonal flu only. The H1N1, so-called swine flu, vaccine will become available sometime in October. At that time, students will again be offered the vaccine on a voluntary basis.

Permission slips were sent home for parents to give their approval.

Johnson said symptoms are similar in both flus but the key is for anyone who is sick to stay home — particularly if they have a temperature of 100 or more — to prevent the disease from spreading through the community. Everyone is also still being reminded to cover their mouths when they cough, to wash their hands frequently and to be vigilant in keeping germs at bay.

“It’s no fun, but stay home and don’t spread it,” Johnson said.

“We assume by vaccinating people, we’re cutting down on spreading the virus,” she said.

Gov. John Baldacci signed a Proclamation of Civil Emergency on Sept. 1, which in part allows the state to facilitate a statewide vaccination program.

As of Sept. 17, Maine had identified 381 cases of H1N1, including 19 people who needed to be hospitalized and one person who died, according to a Sept. 17 report from the Maine Center for Disease Control. Of Maine residents, 63 percent are under the age of 25.

Cases of H1N1 that have been identified are only from those people who have been tested, according to the MCDC.

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