As the city gears up to give out the H1N1 vaccine to school kids across the five boroughs, health officials are doing a test run with the seasonal flu vaccine.

About 700 students will receive a free seasonal flu vaccine starting today.

Officials say they want to work out any issues before the H1N1/swine flu vaccine becomes available.

Seasonal flu vaccines will be given at: P.S. 35 Clove Valley School on Staten Island, P.S. 136 Roy Wilkins in Queens, P.S. 46 Edgar Allan Poe in the Bronx, The Children’s Workshop School in Manhattan, and P.S. 40 George Washington Carver and Saint Mark School, both in Brooklyn.

“I think it’s good because some people can’t afford a flu shot,” said one student. “If their children get sick, they would say, ‘oh, I should have gotten the flu shot, but I couldn’t afford it, so now look what happened.’”

Parental consent forms will be handed out to elementary school children in public and non-public schools in the next few weeks for the H1N1 vaccination.

“[My son] has already gotten the seasonal flu nasal spray, but I really have qualms about the H1N1 vaccine,” said one parent. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when that comes around. We haven’t had to fill out paper work for that yet.”

“We’re actually not taking part in it, but it’s great that they are offering it,” said another. “It’s really showing that the city is actually doing something to prevent this.”

“As long as it’s not made mandatory, as long as it’s left as a choice for the person, then that’s fine,” said a third.

The H1N1 vaccine will be offered free of charge to all city students, beginning later this month or early next month.

For more information on these vaccines and other flu news, go to nyc.gov/flu.

Source: NY1