Pittsburgh gets its first doses of swine-flu vaccine

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Allegheny County Health Department in Pittsburgh has received 1,000 doses of the swine-flu vaccine to help those who cannot get it from their own health care providers or schools.

Spokesman Guillermo Cole says the nasal spray doses arrived late Tuesday.

He says they’re being held back for “unmet needs” — that is, people who can’t get the vaccine anywhere else.

The initial doses are intended for 5- to 9-year-olds, whom the Pennsylvania Department of Health has made the first priority group to receive the vaccines.

The vaccines are provided by the federal government and will be free to those who need to get them at the county health department. Cole says providers aren’t allowed to charge for the vaccines, but may charge for the costs of distributing it.