The first doses are available for the following *healthy* people:

&ull; Ages 2 through 24 years of age

&ull; From 25 through 49 years of age and:

&ull; Live with or take

care of infants younger than 6 months old

&ull; Are health care or emergency medical personnel.

&ull; Children ages 2 through 9 years of age must get *two* flu mists 28 days apart.

The following people should *not* get the H1N1 flu mist:

&ull; Anyone with a severe life threatening allergy to eggs

&ull; Anyone younger than 2 years of age

&ull; Anyone 50 years of age or older

&ull; Pregnant women

&ull; Anyone with a weakened immune system or long term health problems

&ull; Children younger than 5 years old with asthma or one or more episodes of wheezing in the past year

&ull; Anyone in close contact with a person who has a severely weakened immune System (requiring care in a protected environment)

&ull; Children on long term aspirin therapy

&ull; People who are moderately or severely ill

The H1N1 flu mist is available at the Polk County Health Department Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. &bsp;

There will be no charge to patients for the flu mist. Please bring your insurance card, Medicaid card and social security number. &bsp;

The health department can bill your insurance for an administration fee but will not ask the patient for money for the H1N1 vaccines.

If you have questions, call the health department at 828-894-8271. &bsp;Rutherford, Polk and McDowell County health departments also have seasonal influenza vaccines available for children ages 6 months through 35 months of age.

The health department currently has a limited number of seasonal flu vaccine for adults ages 60 and older. As of yesterday only 100 doses were available.

The health department does have nasal flu mist available currently for ages two to 49 years of age.

There is no charge for the vaccine. These vaccines are given 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m&bsp; Monday through Friday.&bsp; Please bring your child&squo;s immunization record,&bsp; medicaid card, insurance card and social security card.