Health department updates schedule of flu shots at county schools

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control released an updated schedule for free H1N1 flu shots that will be given to students and staff in Beaufort County public and private schools.

The shots are voluntary, and written parental permission will be required, said Nick Davidson, coordinator of school-based clinics for DHEC Region 8, which encompasses Beaufort, Hampton, Colleton and Jasper counties. School-based clinics will be offered in all four counties, he said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that production of the vaccine is running about 25 percent behind projections, in part because of efforts to ensure the safety of the product.

"There has been some delay in actually getting the vaccines out the door," Davidson said Monday. "At this point, it doesn't look like it's going to impact our plans here."

Dates in the schedule below are subject to change, Davidson said.

Nov. 2: Broad River and Mossy Oaks elementary schools and Heritage Academy

Nov. 3: Whale Branch and Bluffton elementary schools, Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center and Hilton Head Preparatory School

Nov. 4: Lady's Island, Daufuskie Island, Port Royal and Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate elementary schools, and James J. Davis Early Childhood Center

Nov. 5: Beaufort, Shanklin and Okatie elementary schools

Nov. 6: Shell Point, Coosa and Red Cedar elementary schools, E.C. Montessori and Hilton Head Christian Academy

Nov. 9: Beaufort Academy, Robert Smalls and Hilton Head Island middle schools, and St. Helena Elementary School

Nov. 10: Beaufort Middle School, Riverview Charter School and the Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts

Nov. 12: Lady's Island and Whale Branch middle schools and M.C. Riley Elementary School

Nov. 13: Beaufort High School

Nov. 16: Beaufort Christian, Beaufort High School, H.E. McCracken Middle School and St. Peter's Catholic School

Nov. 17: Cross School and H.E. McCracken Middle School

Nov. 18: Hilton Head Island High School

Nov. 19: Hilton Head Island and Battery Creek high schools

Nov. 20: Battery Creek and Bluffton high schools, Sea Pines Montessori and Academy for Career Excellence

Nov. 23: Bluffton High School and Academy for Career Excellence