First doses available only to those at high riskH1N1 (swine) flu vaccinations for the individuals most at risk of getting seriously ill begin today (Tuesday).Park County Public Health is taking appointments for pregnant residents, those who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months, and health-care workers.Because of the low number of vaccines currently available, only people in those high-risk groups currently are eligible to receive the vaccine.

According to the state Department of Health, Wyoming received 11,800 doses of H1N1 vaccine over the last two weeks; another 12,200 have been ordered for delivery this week.

Park County Health Nurse Liz Keefer said the county's allotment of that total is small at this point, but “We have enough for who's calling for it now.” Ultimately, she added, “We expect to have enough to cover all our residents.”

“Each week we'll be getting more, and it will be made more available to the other high risk groups,” said Park County Health Officer Charles Jamieson in an e-mailed release.

Those other high risk groups include those between 6 months and 24 years of age, and those 25 and older with medical problems.

Then, “as the vaccine becomes more readily available, and the high risks groups' needs have been met, the vaccine will be offered to the general population,” said Jamieson, adding, “We are hoping to have all medical care providers as well as the pregnant women vaccinated within the first two to three weeks. ... By then we should be getting enough vaccine to start immunizing the children at some sites as well as vaccine available at some of the pharmacies for adults with chronic illnesses.”

The vaccines are being provided free of charge at public health offices in Powell and Cody, though private providers may charge a fee.

“The federal government is pushing this vaccine out at no cost to anyone,” Keefer said. As a result, “at public health, we can't charge anything to provide it, either.”

Earlier this month, the county accepted an $81,338 grant from the state department of health to help defray the costs of administering the vaccine. That money will be used to purchase more refrigerator space, buy protective equipment, and hire temporary personnel to help vaccinate local folks, Keefer said.

Powell Valley Healthcare is also working to immunize its personnel.

As of Wednesday, Powell Valley Healthcare had received 100 doses of the vaccine and was beginning to immunize staff, said Carole Genz-Mould, an infectious disease preventionist.

Genz-Mould said the effort was especially focused on those working in Express Care and Emergency Room personnel, “because they're getting exposed all the time.”

Eventually, Powell Valley Healthcare also plans to offer the vaccine to the general public, probably for a fee similar to $20 charged with the seasonal flu.

“By December, I think we'll have more doses than we need,” said Genz-Mold, adding, “The problem is, the H1N1 (peak) is now. Will it be over by then? I don't know.”

Some 1,614 flu cases have been reported in Wyoming since May, with 419 swine flu cases. However, the state health department says the number of infections likely is much higher.

“Most ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested,” she said. Further, “specific swine (novel H1N1) flu counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by specialized lab testing as the H1N1 strain as part of the department's ongoing surveillance activities.”

Only two cases of H1N1 have been confirmed in Park County, but “we know that's not an accurate reflection of what's going on,” said Wyoming Health Department spokeswoman Kim Deti.

At this time, officials are assuming that nearly every case of the flu is H1N1.

The typical seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against the novel H1N1 strain, nor does the H1N1 vaccine protect against the strains covered by the seasonal shot.

“For the best possible protection over the coming months, people will need to get the H1N1 flu vaccine and a seasonal flu vaccine,” Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer in a news release. “However we realize it will take a little effort and some patience for most people to get both of these immunizations. We ask residents to understand this flu season will not be business as usual.”

Sherard said there are reports of delays in shipments of seasonal flu vaccines; Keefer said Park County Public Health is temporarily out of adult vaccinations, though children's doses still are.