The first phase of H1N1 immunizations in city schools got underway this morning.

According to the Department of Education, 125 elementary schools across the city with enrollment of less than 400 students began giving vaccines to children during regular school hours.

Parents were given the vaccination forms last week, but officials say response has been low, with only 30 percent of the forms being returned.

Health officials are saying there will soon be enough doses of the vaccine to go around.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 22 million doses of the vaccine are now available, meaning that 8 million doses have become available in the last week alone.

“Eventually, there will be enough vaccine for all who want to be vaccinated to get vaccinated,” said CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden. “We wish we had more vaccine available now, we wish it had been available weeks or even months earlier but we are beginning to get to a significant increase in the availability.”

The second phase of immunizations at city schools will begin on November 4 and the third will begin November 9.

The city will also run free public H1N1 vaccination clinics on weekends in each borough for middle and high school students.

To find out when specific schools will be offering the vaccine, visit nyc.gov/flu.

Source: NY1