A citywide campaign to vaccinate thousands of teens against meningitis began yesterday when a medical team administered shots to 250 students at Ella Flagg Young Elementary on the West Side.

After two recent meningitis deaths in the Austin area, Chicago Health Commissioner Terry Mason called upon parents of all teenagers to check their children's shot records. He urged teens who have not yet been vaccinated against meningitis to visit their family doctor or a city clinic.

In addition to sending health teams to the schools, officials will also hold vaccination clinics for 11- to 18-year-olds tomorrow at Columbus and Douglas parks on the West Side.

Ten cases of meningococcal invasive disease have been reported in the city this year. A 15-year-old Austin girl died of the disease on March 6. An 18-year-old Austin man died last week.

The city is concentrating its vaccinations in the Austin and North Lawndale areas. But officials say teens throughout the city should be vaccinated, if they haven't been previously.

"While this disease is dangerous, it is easily prevented with a simple vaccination," Mason says.

The city will continue vaccinations Friday at Flagg Young Elementary and North Lawndale College Prep, and will move on to other schools next week.

"We'll be working our way through the schools," says Tim Hadac, a public health department spokesman.

Appointments are not necessary for tomorrow's free vaccination clinics, but parents should bring shot records.

If parents do not have a family doctor, and want to receive the shots more quickly, Hadac says, they can dial 311. The health department also runs a fast-track immunization clinics across the city.

It takes up to 10 days after the vaccination for a person's body to build up immunity, according to the public health department. The shots are thought to be effective for years, but because the vaccination was approved just three years ago, there is some question as to whether a booster shot is needed.

Symptoms of meningitis include sudden fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and a spotty red or purple-colored rash. The disease is not highly contagious, but can be spread through sneezing, kissing and sharing eating utensils. Once contracted, the disease can be controlled by medication.

Health officials do not believe the two Austin cases to be related.

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