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County health departments will rely mostly on the honor system in administering the first batch of swine flu vaccine, trusting that recipients belong in the groups targeted as high-priority.

High-risk groups eligible to receive the vaccine first include pregnant women, health care workers, anyone from 6 months to 24 years old, and adults ages 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions that put them at a special risk of complications.

"They don't need a note from their doctor, but we're hoping people will be up front about it," said Leslie Terjesen, spokeswoman for the Ocean County Health Department, which held several flu clinics last week.

The H1N1, or swine flu, vaccines are arriving piecemeal at county heath departments statewide.

Guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health and Senior Services say to distribute vaccines first to high-risk groups.

Local health officials said there will eventually be enough vaccine available to anyone who wants one.

In New Jersey, 234,500 doses of vaccine had been shipped by Oct. 21, according to the CDC. Symptoms of swine flu resemble those of regular flu.

Patricia Diamond, a health officer for the Atlantic County Health Department, said it is important that people adhere to the at-risk classifications.

"The groups are based on CDC-based priority groups on who was coming down with the illness and those that were also having the most complications," she said.

Cape May County will holds its first H1N1 clinic for high-priority groups Oct. 30 at Atlantic Cape Community College in Middle Township.

"We're hoping that people be as honest as possible," Health Officer Kevin Thomas said.

Thomas said people have to sign a consent form that indicates their priority group.

Flu clinics are expected to be held at Cape May County schools in November, he said.

Reported cases of flu-like illness have increased in Cape May County recently, including at Middle Township High School and schools in Dennis Township, according to the health department.

The Cumberland County Health Department recently began offering the H1N1 vaccine at schools, where basically the entire student population is eligible for the shot.

As a result, vaccine eligibility has not been a problem, health officer Herbert Roeschke said.

"It could be an issue, but in our particular circumstance it is very controlled and it has not presented a problem," he said.

Meanwhile, Roeschke highlighted the importance of the vaccine.

"It's a very safe vaccine, it can be given at the same time with regular flu vaccine and it's probably our first line of defense against this particular illness," he said.

More information on H1N1 is available at: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

Contact Brian Ianieri:

609-463-6713

BIanieri@pressofac.com

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