Students and teachers at Gainesville's Howard W. Bishop Middle School were given a second chance to combat the flu on Wednesday.
Alachua County health department workers vaccinated about 70 people at the school who missed the first round of vaccinations back in October.
Health department workers plan to visit every public school in the county during the coming weeks to prevent the spread of the virus that has already claimed three young lives in Florida.
"These students are like my children," said Alicia Laboy, a media center assistant at Howard W. Bishop. "Like my own, you know? And while they're here, it's our responsibility to protect them."
Alachua County Public Schools spokeswoman Jackie Johnson said the shots will be offered until Feb. 22, but if there's still a need, the date can be extended.
"It's not too late to get the flu shot," she said, "and if you get a flu shot — even if it's not a strong match with the strain that's out there — you still get protection."
The original vaccine is about 30 percent effective, but the health department said that's still better than not getting a flu shot at all.