The H1N1 vaccine has arrived in Warren County, but will only be distributed to priority groups until further doses are received. Warren County Health Department Administrator Ruth Walters said the vaccine will be administered to local emergency personnel first, then be given out to other priority groups. So far, Warren County has received only 200 doses of the H1N1 vaccine. Walters said more doses should arrive weekly. "There is no shortage," she said. "It will be here." Other groups who are considered in a high priority group are people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months and children ages 2 to 4 years old. The vaccine is a flu mist, a live attenuated vaccine that is inhaled through the nose. The flu mist, however, cannot be given to pregnant women, Walters noted. A flu clinic will be held Monday, Oct. 19, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the University of Missouri Extension office, 107 W. Walton in Warrenton for those individuals meeting the priority group guidelines. Walters anticipates the rest of the H1N1 vaccine to be in shot form. The H1N1 vaccines are being administered free since it is being provided by the federal government. Due to the high cost of testing to confirm H1N1, some medical professionals are assuming individuals testing positive for influenza type A have the H1N1 virus, according to health officials. The seasonal flu and H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as the swine flu, are similar in that signs include fatigue, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, coughing and sneezing. "We keep telling them it's an influenza," said Stacey White, health department educator. "You treat it like the seasonal flu. What is different is it's hitting young kids and adults more. It's just another flu." No cases of students infected with H1N1 have yet to be confirmed in either the Warren County R-III or Wright City R-II school districts. Superintendents from both districts acknowledged students have supposedly tested positive for influenza type A. School officials from both districts said the flu has not led to significant attendance issues yet in either district. "We're not seeing a progression to the worse," R-II Superintendent Dr. Chris Gaines said. The health department also is awaiting another shipment of the seasonal flu vaccine. According to Walters, 900 doses were ordered this year, but only 300 had arrived. All of the doses were given out during a clinic that lasted only 1 1/2 hours Oct. 1. Walters said at least 60-70 people had to be turned away. Three hundred more doses are expected to arrive by the end of the month. Walters also said Wal-Mart, Walgreens and The Medicine Shoppe, all in Warrenton, also have been out of the seasonal flu vaccine. Walter said one recent day her department fielded 110 phone calls related to the flu. Health department officials are asking citizens to be patient due to the current shortage. Both Walters and White said the best method of flu prevention is through personal care, including proper hand washing and covering your mouth when you cough. They also emphasized that anyone sick with the flu stay home at least 24 hours after not needing medication to break a fever. Walter also advised citizens to seek out their primary care physician for questions and to not pack emergency rooms or urgent care facilities. "Everyone will have the opportunity to get (the vaccine)," White said.