INDIANAPOLIS---State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe, M.D. today announced the Indiana State Department of Health has placed its first order of the live, attenuated nasal mist 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine; 28,700 doses.

"The H1N1 flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect you and your family from getting the flu," said Dr. Monroe. "This form of the vaccine is only recommended for healthy, non-pregnant people aged 2-49 years old."

Dr. Monroe says the Department expects for the intranasal vaccine to start arriving in Indiana early next week. It will be delivered directly to Indiana's 93 local health departments, who will determine how the H1N1 flu vaccine will be distributed in their communities.

"This is just the beginning," said Dr. Monroe. "Additional doses of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine are anticipated to continue to be made available throughout the coming weeks, and we will order it for local health departments as it becomes available."

State health officials remind the public that they are targeting those at highest risk to get the H1N1 flu vaccine, first. These include:

• Pregnant women
• Parents/caregivers of infants under 6 months of age
• Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years of age
• Individuals aged 25 to 64 years of age with underlying chronic conditions or who are immune compromised
• Health care providers and emergency medical services workers

"The 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is free, so cost should not be a barrier to getting it," said Dr. Monroe. "Eventually, there should be enough of the vaccine for everyone who wants it."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be providing weekly updates on how much of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine has been distributed to the states. The Indiana State Department of Health will provide a link to that update each Friday at www.in.gov/flu.

As information becomes available from the local health departments, the State Health Department will post online where you can get the H1N1 flu vaccine at: www.in.gov/flu. Starting on Monday, October 5, the Department will also be offering a toll-free hotline for the public to call for information on the H1N1 flu and its vaccine. That number is 1-877-826-0011. It will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday-Friday.

"Don't get the flu, don't spread the flu, get vaccinated now," said Dr. Monroe.