INDIANAPOLIS -- The Marion County Health Department said Tuesday it will embark on an ambitious plan to make the H1N1 flu vaccine available to every student in the county for no charge before the Christmas break.

Consent forms were being sent to parents of the 70,000 public elementary school students beginning Tuesday, with the first clinic for elementary students starting next week.

"If we can reach and vaccinate enough children, we think it will be huge in trying to prevent an outbreak in our community," said MCHD Director Dr. Virginia Caine.

Students of Indianapolis Public Schools, along with Decatur, Pike, Perry, Wayne, Washington and Warren Townships and Speedway, will get shots at clinics during school hours, said John Althardt, of MCHD.

The vaccine will also be made available to students in Lawrence and Franklin Townships, along with Beech Grove, but it will not be administered during school hours.

The county plans to then offer vaccinations to middle and high school students after the Thanksgiving break, along with students at private and parochial schools.

Details of vaccinations for those students have yet to be finalized, in part because the plan hinges on adequate supply of the vaccine being made available to the county.

"It is critical those parents and guardians wanting their children vaccinated sign and immediately return the consent form," Caine said. "We have to have the signed form in order to give the vaccine. The consent forms are also important because they will determine how much vaccine will be needed at each clinic site."

Later this month, the Health Department plans to announce details on when students ages 9 and under can get the second of two H1N1 vaccinations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that two doses are needed for children ages 6 months to 9.