South Dakota will get its first shipment of swine flu vaccine early next week, but the vaccine will not be available to most people for another few weeks, the state's top health official said.
The first small batch of vaccine, which is expected to arrive by Tuesday or Wednesday, will be a mist that's squirted in the nose, Health Secretary Doneen Hollingsworth said. The mist cannot be used on young children and pregnant women, so the first doses will be used to vaccinate health care workers who have frequent, direct contact with patients.
"It certainly makes sense that health care workers need to be protected so they can take care of others. That's why they're one of the top priority groups," Hollingsworth said.
David Hewett, president of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, said he agrees it makes sense to give the first doses to health care workers.
People also need to remember it's important to get vaccinated for both swine flu and seasonal flu, said Hewett, whose organization represents hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities.
Hewett said hospitals, doctors, nurses and all other parts of the medical system have cooperated to deal with the flu problem. "We're all working together on this one."
South Dakota placed its first order for the swine flu vaccine on Wednesday and is expected to order more on Thursday, Hollingsworth said. She said she could not estimate how many doses South Dakota will receive initially, but that "it's not a lot."
National news accounts have made it sound as if the swine flu vaccine will be available in a few days, but vaccine for the general public will not be available for a few weeks, Hollingsworth said.
By late October or early November, swine flu vaccine will be available for other priority groups, including young children, pregnant women, and those who care for children younger than six months.
"Through doctors' offices and through public health settings, we'll be reaching out to those folks first," Hollingsworth said. "As we have doses we can get to the general public, we will be scheduling clinics and we'll be letting people know."
College students are a lower priority, but that could change if a major outbreak hits a campus, she said.
The first batches of swine flu vaccine must go those most at risk from the disease, Hollingsworth said.
By the third week in October, the state should have doses for traditional shots in the arm, Hollingsworth said.
As of Sept. 25, South Dakota had 125 cases of swine flu for the month, with 11 people hospitalized and no deaths, according to the Health Department.
Hollingsworth said the good news most people get mild to moderate cases of the illness, but some people get really sick.
"This vaccine is an incredible tool to help prevent disease. Why would anybody want to take the chance of getting sick if they don't need to," she said.
