Washington -- The Swine Flu vaccine is being shipped out and administered nationwide. But local health departments in the Valley are waiting for their first shipments. Meanwhile, some patients are still wondering if the vaccine is right for them.
The government's ambitious plan to inoculate at least half the country from Swine Flu began with two squirts of mist. The nasal-spray form of the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine is available in 14 states Tuesday morning.
Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky were among the first states to receive the vaccine.
"The first few doses we're getting we're targeting for healthcare workers across the country because we need those individuals to be able to show up to take care of people who may become ill," said Kentucky Health Commissioner Dr. William Hacker.
Later this week, 6 to 7-million doses of "injectible" H1N1 vaccine will arrive across the country at hospitals, clinics, schools and doctor's offices. Another 20-million doses will be shipped every week after that.
The government has ordered 250-million doses of the vaccine at a cost of $2-billion dollars. Enough, officials say, to inoculate half the country.
"We are, some states, especially in the southeast, very hard hit with the flu . Northeast, not much activity right now. Hopefully, we get people vaccinated before the flu comes through their communities," said ABC News Medical Correspondent Dr. Richard Besser.
Doctor's offices are being inundated with patients' questions about the vaccine. The phones lines are busy and the waiting rooms are full.
Besides health care workers, priority will be given to pregnant women, those between 6 months and 24-years old, and people who have conditions such as asthma or diabetes.
Those at low-risk may not get the vaccine until November.
MORE HEALTH NEWS | TWEET@ABC30 | FREE ABC30 WIDGET
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign up for Breaking News Alerts
Breaking News E-Mail Alerts | Text Message Alerts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More News on abc30.com
Local | California/State | National/World | Weather | Entertainment | Business | Politics | Sports | Consumer Watch | Mr. Food |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
health watch
Sponsored Content
- Suspects Wanted in Connection to Fresno Homicide 28 min ago
- Fresno's Mayor Announced New City Manager
- Giving a Proper Farewell, Military Funeral Honors
- First Five BASIC Giveaway
- State Spent $75M in the Midst of Budget Crisis
- Suspicious Teen Death in Fresno County
- Father of 11-Year-Old Driver Arrested
- Cruise suits up for `Mission: Impossible IV'
- Lil Wayne NY sentencing put off for dental surgery
- 1 home, 2 families, and a Company in the Middle
-
Most Popular
-
Most Viewed StoriesMost Viewed VideoMost Viewed Photos
ABC30 Everywhere
Wireless
Breaking news as it happens. Sign up now!
Visit our mobile site at myabc30.com.
Get our iPhone application.
Newsletters, Alerts, and RSS
Sign up for our newsletters to get news, weather and other alerts via email.
Get breaking news alerts on your desktop
With our RSS feeds, get real-time updates of abc30.com using your favorite news reader.
Blog
Contests, Promotions, and Registration
Check out our contests and promotions. There are always great opportunities to win!
Become a member to enter contests, comment on stories, receive newsletters, and more!
- abc30.com home
- Site Map
- RSS
- Advertise with Us
- Contact Us
- DTV Reports
- Technical Help
- ABC.com
- ABCNews.com
- Privacy Policy
- Safety Information for this site
- Terms of Use
- Copyright ©2010 ABC Inc., KFSN-TV/DT Fresno, CA. All Rights Reserved.





