H1N1 Flu Mist available in Indiana

H1N1 vaccines have reached Indiana. Starting today, health care providers in Marion County can receive the H1N1 Flu Mist.

About 3,500 doses of the vaccine will be disbursed in local hospitals to their critical care employees.

"With a community of 880,000 residents, this is a small amount of vaccine. Because it is a live vaccine, we cannot give it to women who are pregnant or to children and adults with certain chronic medical conditions,” Virginia Caine, M.D., director of the Marion County Health Department said in a press release. "We felt the best use of this vaccine was to protect those who will be taking care of sick people.”

The non-mist vaccine is expected to be distributed to the public in mid-October.

The initial doses available will be given to five target groups first. This includes pregnant women, parents and caregivers of infants under six months old, infants and children between six months and 24 years old, health care and emergency care workers and those more than 25 years old with a pre-existing health condition, according to the release.

Monroe County also hopes to receive the vaccine in the upcoming weeks.