MADISON, Wis. -- Madison-area health officials outlined on Friday their response thus far to concerns about the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, saying that they're moving forward with planned school clinics despite the vaccine supply being rather tentative.

Leaders with Public Health -- Madison and Dane County said that they're confident flu vaccines will be here in time for clinics next week even though some scheduled for Monday were postponed, WISC-TV reported.

Earlier this week, officials outlined a plan to administer the vaccine to all students in Dane County. The effort to immunize students is slated to begin next week. Officials said the schedule depends on vaccine supplies, but if all goes as planned, public health workers will be going to schools throughout Dane County starting Monday and continue for the next five weeks.

Meanwhile, questions and concerns about the virus and the status of vaccine supplies have local health officials and the United Way 211 lines staying busy. They said that preparations are being made to get the vaccine to people who need it and let others know it's OK to take it.

During a press conference on Friday morning, health officials acknowledge to vaccinate adult health care workers is one thing, but to do the same with 80,000 school children is another. Thomas Schlenker, director of Public Health -- Madison & Dane County, said that he thinks the effort will be truly historic.

"It's going to be quite an effort and really unprecedented as far as Dane County's public health in recent history," said Schlenker.

Officials said that they have only 500 doses of the vaccine so far and are expecting 6,000 mist and injectable vaccines by next week in order to start next Tuesday.

"Once we get rolling, we can see what percentage of parents are signing the consent forms and get some idea as to how much it takes," said Cheryl Robinson, nursing supervisor for the local health department. "But, right now, we're assuming high, staffing as if most kids will be immunized."

This effort is under way despite some concern among parents that the vaccine isn't safe, but health officials are assuaging fears.

"It has been tested in several hundred volunteers over the summer, and not one of those volunteers have had any serious reaction at all," Schlenker said.

As vaccine starts to roll in, plans are already being made for public clinics as some people are concerned they can't get the shot from their own doctors, Schlenker said

"There's uneasiness now among physicians so that when people call their doctors' offices, a lot of times, they're told that 'We can't do anything for you; we don't have any vaccine,'" he said. "But, they will get it and they will get it soon."

Health officials said that they're ready to adjust as vaccine supply comes and goes and they'll move any clinics around accordingly.

Meanwhile, health officials are testing three pigs from the Minnesota State Fair in August for the H1N1 virus. If the test turned out positive, it would be the first cases of novel H1N1 in the U.S. swine herd.

Federal officials and the National Pork Board said that people can't get the flu virus from eating or handling pork. They said it's a respiratory virus and not a food-borne illness.