HONOLULU -- State health and education officials on Tuesday launched the annual flu vaccination program at local schools.

Reports of the flu and flu-related deaths in the United States are up and exceeding what is normally expected this time of year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been 1,788 influenza-related deaths since Aug. 30. So far, 37 states are reporting widespread flu activity. Hawaii is not one of them, yet.

State health officials are trying to prevent Hawaii from having widespread flu activity with its third year of the Stop Flu At School program.

Students at Kalihi Kai Elementary lined up on Tuesday morning for their flu vaccinations. About 68,000 students and more than 9,000 teachers and staff from 334 public and private schools will be vaccinated, health officials said.

The governor went to the school to proclaim Tuesday Influenza Vaccination Day.

"The idea of stopping flu right here at school is an important one, and this program from the state Department of Health is a national model," Gov. Linda Lingle said.

The flu vaccination program is an important model for the upcoming H1N1 vaccination program that begins next month, officials said.

"There are some logistical challenges because it is a different vaccine; everything else is pretty much running the same," state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said.

In the last two weeks, 16 children have died on the mainland from the H1N1 influenza, according the CDC.

In Hawaii, H1N1 vaccination forms are scheduled to go home next week. Health officials want parents to return them as soon as possible.

"We just want to reassure parents that it is safe," Park said.

The side effects are the same as the regular flu vaccination, including a sore arm from the shot and a runny nose from the mist, officials said.