The government is set to release the first doses of the swine flu vaccine, but what might surprise you is what type of vaccine they are releasing first.The first release is about two weeks away, but instead of a shot, this one, at least at first, looks like it'll be a nasal spray.Governments around the world have been racing since April to develop a vaccine for the H1N1 swine flu that's now turned into a pandemic. Part of the reason is because it's spreading quickly and part of it is because it's mostly affecting younger people. On top of all that, the regular vaccine we get every year won't work on this flu bug. The US government has been developing both the shot and a nose spray similar to the kinds that have been used for years for the regular flu. But two issues have come up. First, they only expect a few nasal spray vaccines to be available the first week of October, around three point four million nationwide----what they describe as a trickle. And secondly, the nasal spray can only be used for those aged two to forty nine and no on with respiratory issues, including asthma, can take it. Those are the people we're most worried about when it comes to the swine flu, but they'll have to wait until the shot comes out, probably in later October or early November.
But the government is rushing to get as many vaccines, both types, out and into doctors hands before the regular flu gets here and makes things even more complicated.