Students in school districts across the Triangle may get two flu shot clinics this fall. Local health departments are partnering with school districts to offer seasonal flu immunizations in schools as early as September.

According to State Health Director Jeff Engel, the early clinics will offer a chance to learn some lessons about delivering immunizations in the school setting.

"We hope to learn some lessons ahead of H1N1," he said. "It's the logistics of setting it up. Are you going to do it by classroom cohort, or by grade?"

Engel said seasonal flu vaccine is expected to be available to health departments in September. The in-school clinics will be free, paid for through federal stimulus dollars as part of H1N1 pandemic preparation.

Delivery of the H1N1 vaccine will come in waves beginning in early October. Engel said the initial shipment will be less than originally expected.

"We were anticipating over 100 million doses nationally by early October, it's now down to about 40 million doses," he said. "However, we think subsequent to that, on a weekly basis, we'll be getting adequate supplies rolling in."

But Engel said it is highly likely the H1N1 virus will arrive before the vaccine, particularly in school children.

Both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines will be voluntary. The following Triangle counties already have committed to early school-based flu shot clinics: Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville-Vance, Orange, and Wake.