High demand for flu vaccines has cleaned out the Berwyn Health Department’s stock for children — and the adult stock is quickly dwindling.

Additional vaccines could be in the works, but their timely arrival in Berwyn is up to pharmacutical companies for the seasonal flu and the Cook County Department of Public Health for the new H1N1 vaccination.

Berwyn Health Department Nursing Supervisor Sue Grazzini said the H1N1 vaccine is not expected to arrive in the city until November. A halt in production and shipment of the seasonal flu vaccine due to the production of the new H1N1 vaccine has led to a shortage of doses.

“We have been giving flu shots to people that live all over Cook County,” Grazzini said. “There is a big shortage right now, and pediatricians don’t even have the vaccine.”

The department hopes to have the children’s seasonal flu vaccine back in stock next week, Grazzini said.

Days after a possible flu epidemic was declared a national emergency, both elementary school districts in Berwyn are taking steps to combat the H1N1 virus. Schools are now looking to the Cook County Department of Public Health to bring in vaccinations at no cost to parents.

South Berwyn School District 100 nurse Mary Jane Sapko said the district’s seven nurses have spent time in classrooms this year teaching children self-defense tips against the flu, including coughing into a sleeve or tissue, how to use hand sanitizer and washing hands properly.

“The first line of defense is the proactive defense of hand washing and staying home when you’re sick,” Sapko said.

Along with hand washing, the district will be installing large containers of hand sanitizer at each table in each of the district’s eight lunchrooms and has sent home information recommending an H1N1 vaccination for children at high-risk to succumb to the virus, including those with asthma and diabetes.

“From what I know, it’s safe and highly recommended for children,” Sapko said. “We want to provide the opportunity for parents if they want their child to get the shot.”

North Berwyn School District 98 Superintendent John Belmont said the district’s four schools have been monitoring attendance rates since the virus was found in the area last spring.

“We’ve had some kids out but not an unusually large amount,” Belmont said. “But we don’t know if they’re identified as H1N1.”

He said the district has had one confirmed case this school year. The student has recovered and is back in class.

Both districts have signed up with the Cook County Department of Public Health to bring the H1N1 vaccine shot to schools and hope to have the immunizations begin in late November.

Grazzini said the first shot of the two-dose vaccine will be administered to students who have permission slips by a parent. Those under the age of 10 will need a second vaccination shot four weeks later, which she hopes will be available at the health department.

Children, pregnant women and health care workers are on the on the priority list and will be the first ones to receive the H1N1 vaccine when the department receives their shipment, Grazzini said.

While children may want to take a day off school for a minor case of the sniffles, Sapko said one of the biggest challenges with every flu season is having those in charge of classrooms filled with young minds stay away when they fall ill.

“Teachers always think the school is going to collapse if they’re not here,” Sapko said. “We tell them their class will be fine and they need to take the day off.”