Keep an eye on local media reports to find out when and where H1N1 vaccines will be made available, especially if you’re in an at-risk group.

Wait your turn: Vulnerable groups and health care workers will be the first to get the swine flu vaccine.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—An advisory committee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced its recommendations for who should be first in line to receive the H1N1, a.k.a. swine flu, vaccine. Together, those groups total nearly 160 million people in the country.

THE DETAILS: The CDC’s Committee on Immunization Practices met Wednesday to prioritize which groups of people should receive the vaccine first to avoid spreading the novel pathogen. First batches of the vaccine should be available by mid-October, and the CDC recommends that clinics and vaccination programs make it available to pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months, healthcare and emergency services personnel, people between 6 months through 24 years old, and those age 25 to 64 who are at higher risk for the novel virus because of chronic health disorders, such as diabetes and asthma, or those with compromised immune systems.

In the event of a shortage, these groups should be vaccinated first, according to the CDC:

* pregnant women
* people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
* healthcare and emergency services personnel with direct patient contact
* children 6 months through 4 years of age
* children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.