By: Sandy Davis

Swine flu vaccine was offered officially to the public Monday for the first time since the H1N1 vaccination campaign began in October.

State health officials said they are hopeful more Louisianans will get vaccinated.

Until now, the vaccine had been reserved for people in high-risk groups: pregnant women, people who care for babies 6 months old and younger, health-care workers, children and young adults 5 to 24 years old and people 25 to 64 years old with underlying health conditions.

Now that anyone is eligible, the state Department of Health and Hospitals expects an initial surge of people will go to their doctors or local pharmacies to get vaccinated, said Dr. James Guidry, DHH medical director and the state health officer.

State health officials estimate Louisiana has had 20,000 cases of swine flu since the outbreak began in April and most of those who have contracted the disease are children and young adults ages 5 to 24 years old.

The least likely group to get the swine flu are people 65 years or older.

Out of the 449 confirmed cases of swine flu in Louisiana, no one in the 65 years old or older group has tested positive for the disease, according to a weekly influenza report prepared by the state's Department of Health and Hospitals.

"Older people may have been exposed to a lot of flu over the years that was similar to swine flu,” said Dr. Raoult Ratard, the state's epidemiologist. "These people may now have some low level of immunity to it.”

Shipment of the vaccine for the H1N1 virus will begin in mid-October, according to a recently released "planning Q&A" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Administration of the vaccine is expected to begin in the fall, the agency said.

One scenario follows that over a four-week period around mid-October, approximately 120 million doses will be released followed by the release of 20 million doses per week, the CDC said. Another scenario would allow for up to 20 million doses to be released in late September followed by 80 million per month thereafter. Recipients of the vaccine will be clinics, offices, health departments and other project area-designated sites, the CDC said. Five manufacturers are producing the vaccine for the U.S.

Last month, an advisory committee with the CDC recommended that five target groups receive the vaccine. One group is those 25 through 64 who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. To the relief of long-term care providers, those 65 and older are considered at lesser risk for infection than younger age groups. But once vaccine demand among younger groups is met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 and older, the CDC recommends.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday released its recommendations regarding who should receive vaccines against the H1N1 virus. Seniors didn't make the top of the list—but officials had a good reason why.

Anne Schuchat with the CDC told reporters that the senior population—those aged 65 and older—has been largely spared by the H1N1 virus, and were therefore not considered a priority for inoculation.