While many school districts in Maine and across the country may experience a delay in receiving seasonal flu vaccine, most of the schools in the Western Foothills School District and those in the Bethel area have received most of their supply.

Gloria Jenkins, curriculum coordinator and assistant superintendent of Regional School Unit 10 headquartered in Dixfield, said Wednesday that a sufficient supply has been received to vaccinate all students in Rumford, Mexico, Roxbury, Byron, Dixfield, Canton, Carthage and Peru schools whose parents gave permission.

However, flu vaccine is not yet available for students in Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner because there is a different supplier.

Jenkins said district nurse coordinator Erin Wainwright ordered enough serum to vaccinate about 40 percent of students, which is the percentage the state’s Center for Disease Control anticipated would receive the shots.

If more than that receive permission from parents, then the district will order additional serum. The deadline for returning permission forms to the district’s schools is Monday, Sept. 28.

She said a sufficient number of volunteer nurses from area clinics have agreed to help out with the administration of the flu shots.

Shots are scheduled to begin in the Dixfield area schools on Oct. 5, and in the Rumford area schools Oct. 13. Jenkins said a date to vaccinate students in the Buckfield area has not been set because the serum has not been received.

She said because the H1N1 flu vaccine will be administered later in the fall, Buckfield students may receive both vaccinations at the same time.

In Regional School Unit 44, headquartered in Bethel, district nurse Christine Cole said vaccinations began Tuesday at Andover Elementary School. Students at Woodstock Elementary School will receive vaccinations on Thursday, and Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel early next week.

Vaccinations for Telstar middle and high school students in Bethel have been tentatively scheduled for Oct. 6, but a sufficient amount of serum is likely not available because between 40 and 50 percent of students received permission for the flu vaccination. She said the district will be able to get more at a later time.

Cole said area ambulance services are scheduled to be at the schools when vaccinations are given. The district worked with the Bethel Health Center for assistance. A sufficient number of volunteer nurses are helping with the vaccinations.

Staff members in both school systems will be able to receive the seasonal flu shots at a later date.

Youngsters in both school systems will get the free shots at clinics in their home schools.

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