Participating Hawaii schools have begun sending home parental consent forms for upcoming in-school H1N1 vaccination clinics.

The free, voluntary program is being offered to students in kindergarten through eighth grades statewide. Consent forms are due back to schools by Oct. 30.

"We're hoping that parents will take advantage of this convenient opportunity to get their keiki vaccinated," Chiyome Fukino, director of the state Department of Health, said yesterday in a news release. "Vaccination is the best protection you can offer your children to prevent complications from flu. We urge both keiki and their families to get both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines in order to have maximum protection against both known flu strains circulating this year."

In-school immunization clinics for the seasonal flu are already under way.

For a list of schools offering H1N1 vaccination clinics, go to www.flu.hawaii.gov or call 2-1-1.