The Marion County Health Department continues to conduct H1-N1 flu clinics in County Schools as part of the effort to curb cases of the illness in some of the most succeptible priority groups.

Shelley Yoder with MCHD says the majority of schoolchildren have had an opportunity to receive the vaccine. "We started October 21st and we've done clinics at 21 schools," she says. "There are only three schools in Marion County that still need to have their clinics scheduled." Yoder adds those schools will have their clinics shortly. Parents had to sign permission forms and the vaccinations were voluntary. Yoder says response to the clinics has been good. "We've had a very good turnout," she says. "Anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of the student body has returned forms for the vaccines."

There have been 23 confirmed cases of H1-N1 in Marion County to date, and statewide nearly 550 people have been hospitalized - with the disease blamed for 22 deaths in Illinois.