By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

There was a long line of students waiting outside O'Loughlin Elementary School's technology room Tuesday afternoon as children waited to receive H1N1 flu vaccinations.

The Ellis County Health Department has received about 3,000 doses of the vaccine in the last month and has been working to distribute the medicine to county schools. The county allotment has been divvied up between the health department, Fort Hays State University and Hays Medical Center, said Butch Schlyer, Ellis County Health Administrator.

"Three thousand doses doesn't go very far," he said. "We're just trying to get some things done for the entire county."

In Hays, Roosevelt Elementary School, as well as both middle schools and high schools, have yet to receive the vaccine. Ellis High School also is waiting for more doses, Schlyer said.

It also is recommended that children younger than the age of 9 receive a second dose 30 days after the initial vaccine. Children who were immunized when the vaccine first started arriving will be due for their second dose next week, Schlyer said.

It remains unclear how second doses will be administered, or whether some will receive another dose before other children receive their first, he said.

"All we can do is see what kind of vaccine (amount) comes in and when it comes in, and how we can best utilize it," Schlyer said.

While about 200 doses were given to O'Loughlin students this week, about 75 students who signed up to receive the vaccine will have to wait for a second clinic. Participation rates have been high, with more than 50 percent of families signing children up to receive the vaccine, given either by nasal inhalation or injection.

The school clinics accept the youngest students first. Among the first in line was Ethan Dreiling, a 4-year-old preschool student who was there with his mother, Renee Dreiling, and a friend, Trayton Roa.

Renee Dreiling said she wanted to get her son vaccinated as soon as possible for his protection.

"It's to try to take all precautions that we can in order to prevent this from infecting them," she said. "It's very important."

Most of the younger children are given the nasal mist form of vaccination -- a fact that was a relief to many young minds.

"Shots!" 5-year-old Madelyn Martin exclaimed after receiving her nasal vaccine, pointing to a pile of syringes. "Someone's getting a shot."

Martin was waiting in line with her kindergarten classmates, poring over a pile of stickers to reward their bravery. While it appeared difficult for some children to go through the process, most of the students received the vaccine without any trouble.

"That really tickled," said Nolan Klaus, a 6-year-old first-grader. "That tickled so much."