The traditional flu season is just starting even as H1N1 cases are declining.
But health officials are pushing for people to get immunized now, before Christmas.
"In that September month, we had a lot of kids that were sick," Kim Guinn said. She is coordinator for Anderson County Schools Coordinated Health program. "As a matter of fact, our school system had to dismiss school for a few days because there was so much illness among teachers and students."
That wave of H1N1 struck before flu mist and shots were ready.
But it's not too late to protect yourself from another wave of the swine flu.
The students at Norris Elementary School hear the message often: how to prevent the spread of H1N1 or swine flu.
"We're still really working on hand sanitizers, cover your cough. If you're sick, stay home," Anderson County Schools Spokesperson Karen Bridgeman said. "But we really, really are encouraging people to get the vaccine."
That shift in emphasis mirrors what's happening across the country now that more vaccine is available.
The Anderson County Health Department will finish its first round of school-based flu clinics this week, with the last round Friday at Claxton Elementary and Clinton Middle schools.
Students will soon gather with family and friends for the holidays, a time when history shows the flu virus spreads.
"This particular H1N1 comes in waves," Guinn said. "Probably February 2010 is when we're going to start seeing some other sickness hit us."
Children under ten need two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart. So the elementary school students will get a second dose when they get back from winter break.
So far, about 25 percent of Anderson County students have returned their flu vaccine consent forms.
The federal government has distributed more than 80,000,000 doses of flu vaccine across the country.