The flu vaccination is getting more and more popular.

Now the centers for disease control is recommending all children six months to 18-years-old get vaccinated yearly.

They were lined up for flu vaccinations last fall at Sacred Hearts. "It's growing in popularity because over the years the vaccine quality has improved, the side effects have gone down. The supply has increased, and people are paying more attention," said Dr. Loren Yamamoto, a pediatrics professor for the U.H. Medical School.

The state health department paid close attention this past school year, and not just at Sacred Hearts.

In an unprecedented move the health department dosed out flu vaccinations to more than 60,000 public and private school students state wide.

More than 9,000 faculty and staff were also vaccinated.

The program visited 340 schools.

All that work has won the state a national award.

Health officials say we can expect the same program next year. "I think for next year we're going to focus on doing the same age group, getting even more of those kids vaccinated. And then as the recommendation rolls out we'll think about expanding to high school kids," said Dr. Paul Effler of the State Health Department.

That recommendation is likely to start in the 09-10 school year, and it doesn't come as a surprise to Effler. "Because we had been monitoring carefully the benefits that were being seen from vaccinating school age kids in small studies that had been done," he said.

But with millions more possibly stepping up for flu vaccinations will there be enough for everyone? "Supply has varied from year to year. So, as the vaccine manufacturers know what the demand will be. If they know that these are going to be required, the the manufacturing process will be increased to meet that demand," said Dr. Yamamoto.

Instituting the state wide influenza vaccination program wasn't cheap, total cost was $3.4 million, 90 percent of which was federally funded.

Expectations are next year's plan will cost $2.5 million, and hopes are the federal government will pick up about 70 percent of the tab.