More swine flu vaccines available in Miami-Dade

Vaccines against the swine flu began to flow in earnest on Wednesday, as Miami-Dade health officials said they now have 332,100 doses in both nasal spray and injected versions.

``We also have vaccines for regular seasonal flu, although there are some spotty shortages'' said Lillian Rivera, administrator of the Miami-Dade Health Department. ``It's important that people get both vaccines.''

On Wednesday morning, Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, and Rivera toured the Doris Ison Health Center in Cutler Bay to watch vaccinations.

``You're working in the trenches to protect the most vulnerable populations,'' Koh told workers at the clinic. ``This is a time of unprecedented threat, and unprecedented response.''

Maria Aviles, 27, of Homestead was at the clinic to get her shot.

``I work with kids. I'm a nanny,'' she said. And the two children she cares for, 3 years and 18 months, already have had swine flu and recovered, she said.

``I decided I wanted to be protected.''

Vaccinations are not available to everyone yet. Until supplies are sufficient to serve everyone, vaccinations are limited to priority groups at greatest risk of harm from swine flu. Those groups are, pregnant women; caretakers of infants under 6 months of age; young people 2 to 24; people 25 to 64 who have chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or suppressed immune systems, and healthcare workers, emergency personnel and other first responders who might come in direct contact with flu victims.

Vaccinations are also available for priority groups through private physicians and some hospital out-patient clinics.