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Swine Flu Vaccine Starts for Kids

But expect long waits around the country amid high demand

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 6, 2009 2:25 PM CDT

(Newser) – Children around the country began receiving the first doses of swine flu vaccine, a day after hospitals and health care facilities began immunizing their workers. But medical facilities in only 14 states have so far received the vaccine—so far all as a nasal spray—and high demand means it could be weeks or even months before supply catches up, reports ABC.

Anecdotal evidence suggests doctors' offices are being swamped by callers. "As many people who can grab calls have been," said a nurse at a pediatric center near New York City. It's unclear what criteria is being used to dole out the vaccine. A Tennessee official thinks a Memphis-area hospital received doses because the city has been hard hit—“It would make good sense,” she says—while an Indiana health official employs more prosaic reasoning. The state, she says, was “one of the first states that had their paperwork in very quickly.”

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A healthcare provider uses an empty sample sprayer to demonstrate how to administer FluMist. (AP Photo)

The swine flu vaccine nasal mist in Chicago. (AP Photo)

A doctor receives a swine flu vaccine nasal mist in Chicago. (AP Photo)

A nasal mist dose of the swine flu vaccine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo)

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What we know is this nasal mist that's been distributed cannot be given to pregnant women, or children or adults with chronic disease. - Susan Cooper, Tennessee Department of Health, on why the nasal vaccine is going predominantly to healthy children

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Swine Flu Vaccine Starts for Kids