Swine flu vaccine has begun to arrive in Fulton and Montgomery counties, though county public health departments and hospitals are waiting to receive a shot-based version of the drug that will be available to the general public.
Montgomery County Community Health Educator Debbie Voght said her department received a nasal spray version of the vaccine Oct. 6, intended to protect against the virus more formally known as H1N1. That vaccine, which came in a small shipment, will be used to vaccinate members of the county's Public Health Department and county emergency medical service providers.
A shot-based version of the vaccine recommended for people most at risk for the disease will arrive sometime "in the next few weeks," Voght said. Members of the general public will be allowed to use that vaccine.
Voght said no members of the public would be vaccinated at the Public Health building, and she said members of the department had not decided where vaccination sites would be set up.
"We're still in the planning stages as far as where we're going to have them," she said.
Nathan Littauer Hospital spokeswoman Cheryl McGrattan said today the hospital was expecting to get the nasal version of the vaccine late last week, but said there was a delay statewide in shipping them.
Because of that, the hospital has not yet received any form of the vaccine, though she said it could come through the hospital's doors any day.
St. Mary's Hospital spokeswoman Jerri Cortese said her hospital is just beginning to get the nasal spray today, and hospital officials are still waiting for more to arrive.
"It's a first shipment, but it's not a total shipment," Cortese said.
She said the shot-based vaccine is on its way to the hospital, but said hospital officials do not know when they might receive it.
People who public health groups are recommending be vaccinated first include pregnant women, people who care for infants six months old or younger, people ages 6 months through 24 years old and people ages 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems. Such people are more likely to contract the virus.
Public health departments are working with hospitals to set up vaccination sites.
"We need to work together to make sure we have those priority populations covered," Cortese said.
If there is more vaccine available after those groups are vaccinated, others will be allowed access to the shots. Fulton County Public Health Director Denise Frederick said at a public forum last week it is likely there will be enough vaccine left over for those not in the high-risk groups.
Those ages 65 and older have mostly shown immunity to the disease in tests.
Littauer will host a public information session on the disease Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at its Perth Primary Care Center, while St. Mary's will host an information session Monday at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown.
Zach Subar covers rural Fulton County news. He can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.
