Those at high risk include pregnant women, all children six months to four years old, parents of infants up to six months old, children and young adults between five and 24 with substantial medical conditions, and hospital and other healthcare workers.

"Every time we get some new vaccine in we make the decision who's at highest risk, who do we need to get it out to," Susan Klein-Rothschild from the Santa Barbara Public Health Department said.

Hundreds of people waited in line at the Earl Warren Showgrounds to get themselves or their children the H1N1 vaccine on Thursday.

While the supply is still limited to certain high risk groups, health officials say it's important to find out if you're eligible. And if you are, they say you too should get in line.

"Although most of us get this illness mildly, some people really get it severely, and some people need to be hospitalized. So the more people we have vaccinated, the more we protect people, the better off we are," Klein-Rothschild added.

Dr. Peter Hasler, the medical director of the Santa Barbara County Health Department was on double duty Thursday.

After spending hours at the vaccination clinic, he held a public information meeting at Santa Ynez High School about the swine flu.

"From the message I'm getting from the CDC and the state, we'll see a steady weekly shipment of vaccine into the community," Hasler said.

Monica Escalera is a school nurse and was one of the dozen in attendance at the meeting. She says the H1N1 problem in the local schools is still rather large, and some parents are not helping.

"It's huge, it's pretty much a daily issue. The problem that we have is that parents are still sending their children to school while their ill, and kids are the best people to spread the koodies," Escalera said.

Dr. Hasler says he hopes that by the beginning of the year that everyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get it.

This Saturday the cities of Santa Maria and Lompoc will hold a swine flu clinics from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For more information on upcoming clinics in Santa Barbara county go to the healthy living page on KSBY.com

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