Schools struggle to stay flu-free without flu shot

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The H1N1 virus forced schools to close, forced a change in cleansing curriculum and now... the flu's vaccine has forced schools across the state to wait, from Crookston to Minneapolis.

Related: Officials: Flu line has been 'swamped'

"And of course everything is dependent on the availability of the vaccine," said Minneapolis Public Schools' Craig Vana.

While it's taking longer than anticipated to create the vaccine, so many kids at Crookston schools in Northern Minnesota fell ill, they canceled classes Wednesday. Administrators say ideally it will give kids an extra day to get well as teacher parent conferences are held Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, there's been a cleanliness change in curriculum and nearly everywhere else as Minneapolis Public Schools wait for the H1N1 vaccine.

"We've installed over 3,500 different soap dispensers throughout the district in all of our bathrooms and we've given a directive to all of our engineers, they've got to be filled with soap and towels have to be available," said Vana.

The district also worked with Children's Hospitals to get 15,000 bottles of hand sanitizers into the classrooms. It's the little things that have all added up and district administrators say it's helped to prevent the spread of H1N1, but still it's not 100% effective.

"There are no guarantees and the reality is people are going to get the flu," Vana said.

For those who do get the flu, the Minnesota Department of Health set up a flu-line and it's already received more than 2,100 calls. Health officials said the fact they had so many callers seeking help for flu only underscores the importance of the service. The state's health leaders say an H1N1 vaccine is our best defense, if only lab technicians could force it to grow more quickly.

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