As H1N1 swine flu vaccinations get under way in South Florida, health officials are urging people to be patient and wait their turns, respecting priority lists that reserve first doses for children, young adults, older adults with health problems and healthcare workers who might come in contact with flu victims.

``The next couple of weeks will be challenging, but more vaccine is coming,'' said Dr. Anne Schuchat, immunization expert of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ``But we will have enough that eventually anyone who wants can be vaccinated.''

The H1N1 swine flu, which started in April, is spreading rapidly across the country, doing its worst damage among young children and pregnant women. Big drug companies are struggling to produce enough vaccine against both H1N1 swine flu and regular seasonal flu, falling behind on both fronts.

Here are some common questions and answers:

Q: Is H1N1 swine flu still spreading?

A: The H1N1 influenza is widespread in 41 states now, including Florida -- up from 37 a week ago. Visits to doctors, hospitalizations and deaths from flu all are higher than expected for this time of year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida has had 121 flu deaths this year, including 12 in the past week.

Q: Where and when can I get my H1N1 flu vaccine?

A: As vaccinations for H1N1 start it won't be possible to vaccinate everyone at once, so people will get shots based on priorities established by local health departments. But more vaccine will arrive daily. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promises to make both nasal spray and injected forms of the vaccines available for everybody who wants them before year's end. Florida expects to receive 11 million doses by then. As vaccinations become available at local clinics, county health departments will post locations on their websites. Miami-Dade already has posted a list at dadehealth.org but says vaccinations won't be available to the general public there until priority groups are served.

Q: Who has priority to get swine flu vaccinations?

A: Miami-Dade and Broward health departments both are giving first supplies to school-age children. The next groups with priority will be pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, those between ages 6 months and 24 years, and people ages 25 through 64 who are at higher risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Q: How much will the swine flu vaccine cost me?

A: Vaccines are free in schools and at public clinics; private doctors and other commercial providers might charge a small administration fee that is not yet determined.

Q: Can the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 swine vaccine be given at the same time?

A: The injected form of swine flu vaccine, made of killed flu viruses, can be given at the same time as the injected form or the nasal mist form of regular seasonal flu vaccine. But the nasal mist forms of either regular seasonal flu or swine flu, both made of live, attenuated or weakened virus, should not be given at the same time.

Q: Are there some who should not take the nasal mist?

A: People allergic to eggs should consult their doctors before taking either form of vaccine -- mist or injected. The flu mist vaccine is for healthy adults from 2 through 49 years of age, the CDC says. The mist should not be used on pregnant women, people with long-term health problems and children from 6 months to 2 years of age. They should get the flu shot.

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