PICKENS, S.C. -- On Monday and Tuesday four Department of Health and Environmental Control teams will move across the school district of Pickens County, administering H1N1 vaccinations in elementary schools. An estimated 4,195 students and staff members will be vaccinated.

“We’ve been diligent in planning, and we anticipate the clinics running smoothly,” said Angela Watson, coordinator of nursing. “While DHEC nurses administer the vaccinations, school nurses will be in the health rooms. I’ve distributed guidelines for taking care of students who have issues related to vaccination, so nurses are prepared to care for students as needed.”

Monday clinics will take place at AR Lewis, Pickens, Holly Springs, Hagood, Ambler, Dacusville, Six Mile and Clemson elementary schools. Tuesday clinics will take place at Liberty, East End, McKissick, Crosswell, Forest Acres, Central and West End elementary schools.

All elementary clinics will be completed by the end of the day Tuesday. Clinics in middle and high schools have not been scheduled.

Students will be vaccinated only if the parents returned the consent forms.

Watson added, “We are asking any parent who signed the consent form and then decided to have the child vaccinated somewhere else to call the school nurse.”

A list of questions and answers about the H1N1 vaccine is available on the district Web site at www.pickens.k12.sc.us.