(Sleepy Eye) -  Though they're a little behind, large quantities of the H1N1 vaccine are becoming available.  For the majority of kids at Tuesday's Brown County H1N1 clinic in Sleepy Eye, the nasal mist vaccination wasn't much of a hassle, and only had a few requirements.

Zachary Wilhelmi says, "Not blow your nose and don't sneeze it."

Parents were excited too, as the requirements for who gets the shot and who does not become much clearer when narrowed down to grades Kindergarten through third.

Janelle Munson says, "I know that this is available at this time. I don't have to be watching the papers - seeing when my kids are eligible for the vaccine - I know when it's available and I can bring them here and get the vaccine."

Karen Moritz of Brown County Public Health says, "Just recently we were told, about 2 and a half weeks ago that we would be getting vaccines; enough to have school clinics. Our plans are in place. We already had them ready to go. We just really had to get the equipment and supplies ready to go."

And the turnout was huge, with the county expecting as much as 500 to 600 children to get the immunization.  However, injection vaccines, to be used for children with underlying health conditions, are a much scarcer resource.  Still, the county is trying to take care of their population before the disease can do more damage.

Moritz says, "We don't know. We can't anticipate what the virus will do - if it will have a third wave - so we want to get people immunized so we can minimize the illness and minimize hospitalizations, and possibly, reduce the amount of deaths in our state."  County officials say vaccines for older children will arrive in the coming weeks.

Blue Earth County will hold a free H1N1 clinic this Saturday, November 21st. 

It is for:

- children 9 and younger

- children and adolescents up to 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions

- pregnant women

- persons who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months old

- health care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material.

It will go from 10am - 2pm in the Mankato East Auditorium. 

- Ryan Gustafson, The FOX Mankato News at 9

For More Information on the Blue Earth County Vaccination Clinic, click here or call the Blue Earth County Flu Vaccine Recording.  The number is 385-5600.