'Small portion' of H1N1 vaccine arrives in NH

The first vaccinations against swine flu have arrived in New Hampshire.

Kris Neilsen, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services, described Monday's shipment of the H1N1 vaccine as "a small portion." An estimate wasn't immediately available.

The department says an initial shipment of 7,700 intranasal doses are expected in the state this week. After that, the state is expected to receive about 180,000 doses in October. The intranasal vaccine is appropriate for healthy people ages 2 to 49, meaning it's a good choice for priority groups such as healthcare workers with direct patient contact, EMS personnel and children.

Other versions of the vaccine will be arriving over the coming weeks for other at-risk groups, including pregnant women and people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months.