The swine flu vaccine became available, in limited quantities, in October 2009. Additional vaccines will be available later in the fall. Because of the limited availability, priority for vaccination is being given to high risk populations. People who were alive in 1918 or 1957 may have been exposed to a similar influenza virus already, and may already have immunity to H1N1. As a result, the elderly are not included in the priority vaccination groups.

To be adequately protected against influenza this fall, you'll need to receive two shots: one dose of seasonal flu vaccine, and one doses of novel H1N1 influenza vaccine.http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/pregnant_qa.htm/

1. The swine flu vaccine does not prevent seasonal influenza, which kills approximately 36,000 people in the United States each year.http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/28/regular.flu/index.html
2. The seasonal influenza vaccine prevents some forms of swine flu, but not the novel H1N1 influenza that health officials are concerned about.
3. You can receive both the swine flu shot and the seasonal flu vaccine the same day, if your doctor has both available.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090806/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu_shots
4. If you are concerned about the potential for secondary bacterial pneumonia, you may also want to consider getting a pneumonia vaccine, particularly if the swine flu vaccine is not yet available in your area.http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/04/science/sci-pneumonia4

1. Initially, the following groups of people will have priority to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine:
   1. Pregnant women
   2. Caregivers for children younger than six months old
   3. Health care and emergency medical services workers
   4. Children and young adults from six months to 24 years of age
   5. People ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions
2. After those groups have been vaccinated, the CDC recommends that all people between the ages of 25 and 64 be vaccinated.
3. After everyone under 65 years old has been vaccinated, the vaccine should be offered to people over 65.http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm<ref>

Distribution of the vaccine began on October 5, 2009.

1. The first place you should call to get a swine flu shot is your primary care physician.
2. Your local board of health may be able to direct you to other resources in your community.
3. Some school districts, colleges, and universities are planning mass vaccinations of students.
4. Some states, such as Massachusetts, have authorized other health care providers such as dentists and pharmacists to give swine flu shots, in an effort to make it easier for people to get vaccinated.