COLUMBUS- Local health departments and hospitals in all 88 Ohio counties will receive 389,500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine starting Nov.3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) submitted an order for the vaccine for the CDC- 60,800 doses of the nasal spray and 328,700 shots.

The vaccine will be shipped to 298 hospitals and health departments and is intended for high-risk individuals, including health care workers and EMS workers who serve patients directly.

Other groups susceptible are pregnant women, people who live with or care for children less than 6 months, all individuals 6 months to 24 years and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.

The hospitals and departments can choose who of the susceptible groups receives the vaccine depending on the supply and the demographic makeup of the patients they serve.

Ohio previously received 595,200 doses of the vaccine from ODH, bringing the total allotment of the H1N1 influenza vaccine to 984,700 doses.  More vaccine is expected to be available in the coming weeks.

For more information on vaccine availability, check the ODH Web site at http://www.flu.ohio.gov or call the ODH H1N1 information line at 1-866-800-1404 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Victoria Bouttavong