H1N1 vaccines on hold as county awaits shipment

File photo.

Health officials have immunized 2,500 local school children against swine flu, but the county and Vineland health departments are still waiting on the next shipment of vaccine before setting up clinics for the general population, DJ Staffer Joel Landau reports.

Herb Roeschke, Cumberland County Health Officer, said more than two-thirds of the county's first 3,500 vaccines have been used during clinics throughout the county.

About 500 school children in Vineland were vaccinated earlier this month, city health officer George Sartorio said. The department still has 500 nasal vaccines left, but is waiting for its first shipment of about 2,000 swine flu shots before scheduling clinics for adults.

"Right now we are giving it to our highest priority," Sartorio said.

Local, state and federal health officials have said that young children, healthcare workers, pregnant women and those in regular contact with large groups of young kids should be among the first to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

Roeschke has said the department plans on immunizing every county resident.

"I wish I had that crystal ball," he said. "We're hoping it will come any day now, but we've been expecting it for a month."