After months of anticipation, state public health officials expect the first shipments of the swine flu vaccine to arrive this week, according to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) media spokesperson Thom Berry.

“There is no way to know right now exactly how many shipments will arrive, but we do know there will be a number of shipments over the next few months,” Berry said.

Individual states began placing orders with the federal government Wednesday in an effort to acquire the vaccine, which the Centers of Disease Control officials believe will protect millions from the H1N1 strain of the flu that has caused an estimated 600 deaths and more than 9,000 hospitalizations worldwide.

Doses will first go to county health departments, doctor’s offices, clinics and other providers that have agreed to supply the vaccine. Initially, it will come in the form of a nasal spray, with an injectable vaccine being made available weeks later.

The nasal spray form of the vaccine is specifically targeted to those between two and 49 years of age and without any underlying medical conditions. Health care workers are also among those high on the priority list, Berry said.

Not on the list however are pregnant women and children younger than 24 months old, among those at the highest risk to acquire the ailment.

“The first doses in a nasal spray have a form of live virus not safe for pregnant women and young children, as well as those with underlying conditions,” Berry said. “The injectable doses will have an ‘inactivated’ or dead virus that is much safer and protects them from swine flu.”

DHEC officials are recommending people speak with their doctor or health care provider to see when or if it is safe for them to take the nasal spray form of the vaccine.

“You don’t want to take the nasal spray version of the vaccine and it cause some other problem,” Berry said. “So we must stress people speak with their doctor before being given the vaccine.”

Cases of the H1N1 strain of swine flu have been reported in each of the state’s 46 counties.

Most appear to track along the same line as seasonal influenza, Berry said, causing mild to moderate symptoms including fever, chills and sweat, headache, dry cough, fatigue, nasal congestion and diarrhea, among others.

“Just like seasonal influenza, most cases have been mild and within a few days people are back to health,” Berry said.

“Fortunately, doses of the seasonal flu are in ample supply,” Berry said.

If you would like more information about H1N1 and seasonal influenza, DHEC is posting daily updates at www.scdhec.gov/flu.

South Carolina residents can also call 211 to receive the latest information about the flu and other ailments.