NH Exceeds Goal For Swine Flu Vaccinations

New Hampshire public health officials says almost half the state's population is now protected from the swine flu, making it much less likely that there will be another widespread outbreak.

Public Health Director Dr. Jose Montero said yesterday that the state has exceeded its goal of handing out 300,000 doses of vaccine by mid-February.

That amounts to close to a quarter of the population. A similar percentage of people are protected because of immunity developed from having had the flu.

Montero says the typical seasonal flu strains of recent years have been almost nonexistent in the state this year. The swine flu vaccine continues to be available at doctors' offices, hospitals, and walk-in clinics at pharmacies.