Distribution Slow for H1N1 Vaccines LOUISVILLE (Kentucky Public Radio) -

Officials say 13 of the 18 H1N1-related deaths in Kentucky have involved people in high risk groups. But as KPR's Stephanie Crosby reports, it's still slow-going to get the vaccine to the populations that need them.

The CDC has recommended for weeks that pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants, and health care workers get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible. So far, Kentucky has been allocated about 442,000 doses, enough to vaccinate about 10% of the population.

"I think we're doing really well if you look at our numbers compared to other states that are similar in size to us. Indiana has been allocated more vaccine because they have a larger population than we do," says State Epidemiologist Dr. Kraig Humbaugh.

Of those doses, Humbaugh says about 30% of them are nasal spray. He says they've seen some hesitation in some populations to take the spray, but says the spray is safe and produced in the same way as the seasonal flu mist.

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