PIERRE - Clinics statewide have given more than 70,000 doses of flu vaccine to South Dakota kids from age 6 months through 18 years, more than tripling last year's vaccination of 19,000 kids in the same age groups.

"The response to this initiative has been fantastic and it's great to be so close to our goal of 100,000 kids immunized," said Doneen Hollingsworth, Secretary of Health. "We'd love to see that number even higher and will keep giving immunizations throughout the flu season. If parents haven't already done so we really encourage them to get their kids in for a flu shot."

Flu immunization rates are highest for children under 5, with fewer middle school and high school students getting the shot. The vaccine is still available through clinics, health department community health offices and at special clinics listed on the department's Web site at http://flu.sd.gov.

To date, South Dakota has reported three laboratory confirmed cases of influenza B and two of influenza A. There have also been 50 rapid tests positive for flu.

Hollingsworth said the Governor's flu initiative is providing free vaccine for kids because they account for a significant percentage of flu cases and hospitalizations each year. During the 2006-2007 flu season, 70 percent of South Dakota's cases were kids 19 and younger, and 43percent of flu-related hospitalizations were 10 and younger.

Improving South Dakota's childhood immunization rate is a key objective of the department's Health 2010 Initiative.