MOUNT VERNON — H1N1 vaccine for children is not here yet, but the Knox County Health Department wants to be prepared when it does arrive. This week the health department is sending H1N1 consent forms home with all school children.

“We want parents to be on the look-out for the consent form,” said Health Commissioner Dennis Murray. “We know how things can get lost between school and home.” The health department is asking for the forms to be returned to their child’s school by Friday.

“The purpose of the consent form is two-fold” said Murray. “First, we need parental permission to give the vaccine to a child under age 18. Secondly, we need to know how many parents actually want their child to receive the vaccine.” From health department calculations, there are about 11,000 children in Knox County between ages 6 months to 18 years.

“We’ve ordered enough vaccine for every child,” said Murray. “But with vaccine production much lower than expected, we’re not expecting to receive everything we’ve ordered. Therefore, we strongly recommend that parents return the form so that we can determine how much vaccine will actually be needed.

Consent forms have also been given to preschools and daycare centers for distribution to younger children. The forms also can be picked up at the health department, 11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, or the forms can be printed from the What’s New page on the health department’s Web site, www.knoxhealth.com.

“We want to emphasize that receiving the vaccine is voluntary, not mandatory,” said Murray. A signed consent form from a child’s parent or guardian will be necessary for a child to receive the H1N1 vaccine. “If parents do not return the consent form, but show up at a clinic with the form, we hope to accommodate them and their child depending on availability.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available in the form of a shot or nasal spray. The vaccine is free of charge.

As soon as additional shipments of the H1N1 vaccine arrive, the health department will announce dates for the clinics for children. Preliminary plans call for clinics for young children, including elementary students, to be held at school locations in the evening with parents or guardians accompanying their children. Clinics for middle school and high school students will be held during the day at school, although these students are welcome to attend the evening clinics with parents if they prefer.

“We might be combining some groups into one clinic,” said Murray. “For example, students from several elementary schools could attend a clinic at another location other than their home school.

“We’re hoping we receive enough vaccine for everyone who wants it,” said Murray. “But, if we don’t get enough vaccine, we may have to offer it to the most vulnerable, which would be those ages 6 months to 5 years.”