Ninety students at a Landover elementary school became the first in Prince George's County on Friday to receive the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, vaccination, which state officials said should be available to all students in the next few months.

"I feel really good about this and I hope it works," said Hyattsville resident Ayana Andrews, whose 5-year-old son, Stephen Haynes, received the free vaccine at Dodge Park Elementary School. "I'm thankful."

The Dodge Park kindergartner is in the habit of sucking his fingers, Andrews said, and she is constantly worried about the germs he picks up at school.

Several county, federal and state officials — including county Schools Superintendent William Hite Jr., Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius — attended the event to tout the vaccine's safety and encourage residents to get the vaccine.

Children are among the five priority groups, including pregnant women, caregivers, medical workers and those with medical conditions, who are strongly encouraged to receive the vaccination.

Since the emergence of the H1N1 virus in April, there have been nine deaths in the state, two of which were children, O'Malley said.

The county has received 2,300 vaccines and an additional shipment is expected next week, said Donald Shell, director of the county's health department. Shell said county health workers, such as emergency service workers, are next in line to receive the vaccine.

County residents have expressed concern that the swine flu vaccine may not have had enough time to be properly tested.

Children and adults who receive the vaccine are advised to look out for flu-like symptoms such as a high fever, sore throat, cough and runny nose, and to contact their doctor if symptoms arise.

All students will have the option to receive a vaccine, and parents will receive a schedule in two weeks of when vaccines will become available at county schools, Hite said.

While less than 20 percent of about 500 students at the elementary school opted to receive a vaccination Friday, school officials are hopeful more parents will choose to participate.

Students at the school were given a consent letter and healthy survey Wednesday for parents to fill out and were required to return information the following day, school spokesman MosesAlexander Greene said.

In May, Montpelier Elementary School in Laurel, Vansville Elementary School in Beltsville and University Park Elementary School closed because of suspected cases of swine flu. None of the cases were confirmed, according to school officials.

"It's an opportunity for prevention," Hite said, adding that he hoped more parents will opt to vaccinate their children at future sessions.

Sibelius echoed Hite's sentiments Friday as she pledged the vaccine's safety.

"We know a lot more about H1N1 than we did in the spring," she said. "These vaccines are not new and are very similar to the seasonal flu vaccine."

Had the H1N1 virus been detected before April, Sibelius said, the swine flu vaccination would have been included in the seasonal flu vaccination. However, when the virus was detected six months ago, this year's national supply of seasonal flu shots was already in production, she said.

"I think it's fine," said Hyattsville resident Ethel Benson, grandmother of 12-year-old D'Angelo Greene. "I'm confident. And if he gets sick, it won't be as severe."

D'Angelo, a sixth-grader at Dodge Park, said he was not scared to get the vaccine, which was given to students as a nasal mist, similar to the seasonal flu vaccine option.

"If somebody in my class or family gets sick, then I won't," he said Friday.

After the priority groups are given first opportunity to get the vaccines, they will become available to all state residents, O' Malley said, adding that vaccinations will be dispersed throughout the state through $2 million in federal funds.

Shell estimated that 474,000 shots will be needed countywide, but did not have an estimate for when the vaccinations will be available to those residents not included in the priority list.

With more than 820,000 county residents, Shell said nearly 500,000 vaccinations is a reasonable estimate of how many would get the vaccine and said the supply will be adjusted according to demand.

E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.