WESTERLY - Sucking on a lollypop supplied by her mother, Emily Vocatura appeared unfazed by the recent injection to her arm.

"It only poked a little bit," the 6-year-old said.

She and her sister, Caroline, 10, students at St. Pius X School, were among the first students locally to receive H1N1 influenza vaccines at a school clinic Tuesday evening.

When the doors opened shortly before 4:30 p.m., some 100 students and parents lined up in the Elm Street church hall for the injected vaccine. Some families had arrived as early as 3 p.m.

The Rhode Island Department of Health kicked off the randomly scheduled voluntary clinics on Monday, and they are scheduled to run through Dec. 15.

Among Westerly and the Chariho Regional School District schools, St. Pius drew the earliest date, while the latest is expected to take place Dec. 14 at Westerly High School.

Few tears were visible as children left the clinic, although a few parent promises of ice cream were heard.

Waiting in line to go in, Chris and Angela DeSantis said they opted to have their two school-age children vaccinated. The vaccine prompts a child's immune system to produce antibodies to protect against the H1N1 virus, according to the state health department.

Angela DeSantis said she was more worried about her children contracting the H1N1, or swine, influenza than about the vaccine itself. It is made by the same manufacturers who make seasonal flu vaccines, according to the state agency.

Chris DeSantis, a local doctor, said, "It's also a public service to make sure we don't pass it along to any other people."

He added that healthy people are contracting H1N1 and dying, including children.

Leaving the clinic, David Vocatura said he asked trusted individuals with medical backgrounds before deciding to have his daughters, Caroline and Emily, vaccinated.

"It's a worry when you read in the paper that people are dying from it," he said.

He found Tuesday's clinic well-organized and said the medical professionals did a great job calming any apprehensive children.

"It's over so quick," added his wife, Tammie. She said they have always gotten their children seasonal flu shots.

Students are required to have signed and dated consent forms to receive the vaccination, administered by Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps members.

Additional local clinics for students are scheduled on the following days:

• Friday, Hope Valley Elementary

• Nov. 9, Chariho Regional Middle School and Richmond Elementary

• Nov. 16, Charlestown Elementary

• Nov. 17, Westerly Middle School

• Nov. 19, Bradford and Springbrook schools

• Nov. 23, Chariho Regional High School

• Nov. 30, Ashaway Elementary and the R.Y.S.E. School

• Dec. 2, Meadowbrook Waldorf School

• Dec. 4, State Street School

• Dec. 9, Dunn's Corners School

• Dec. 14, Westerly High School

Middle and high school students will be vaccinated during the school day, and most elementary school students will be vaccinated after school between 4 and 8 p.m., according to the state health agency.

Anthony Alicchio, a Westerly police officer, barred a Sun reporter and photographer from observing Tuesday's vaccination process. He said the state Health Department set the policy in accordance with HIPAA privacy laws.

The state agency's posted policy as of Monday merely stated that "video and/or audio recordings of any kind are prohibited in the clinic when students are being vaccinated." The policy was updated late Tuesday to include still photography and indicated the health department was attempting to find a school willing to allow media access to the clinics.

More about h1n1 flu

• ARTICLE: H1N1 strikes Chariho Campus
• ARTICLE: Westerly officials brace for potential H1N1 flu epidemic