Purchased with federal grants, the 23 million masks and gloves will be used by ill students as well as the nurses who examine them. 'We want to keep students, teachers and staff healthy and in school,' said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. The announcement came as the first of Los Angeles County's final dozen H1N1 flu vaccination clinics opened. By the time the county finishes the clinics Dec. 8, they will have distributed nearly 200,000 vaccines at 109 county-sponsored clinics. County leaders say they refined their strategy after facing criticism for mismanaging past clinics, where long lines lead to day-long waits for those most at risk, including small children, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses. Some left or were turned away, and lined up at later clinics in the wee hours of the morning. Though county health officials have said H1N1 flu peaked in mid-October to early November and fewer people are being hospitalized with the flu here, they said a 'third wave' of outbreaks is possible and urged those most at risk to get vaccinated. 'I want to make sure people know just because we've reached the peak of this wave doesn't mean you can't get the flu,' said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, director of the county's Department of Public Health. 