Northwest Georgia county health departments have received vaccine and have begun offering H1N1 flu shots, according to a news release this morning.

Dr. Wade Sellers with Northwest Georgia Public Health said 3,200 doses are available for Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties.

“We wish we had more right now and share the public's frustration with the delays in getting it to our community, but we expect there will eventually be enough vaccine for everyone who wants to receive it to do so,” Dr. Sellers said in the release.

Here is the schedule for shots:

Catoosa County — The health department will begin offering 800 H1N1 flu shots on a walk-in basis for priority, high-risk individuals starting Thursday at 145 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The department also has 200 doses of the intranasal “FluMist” vaccine available for healthy people aged 2 to 49.

For information, call 706-935-2366.

Dade County — The health department at 71 Case Avenue, Suite H-100, in Trenton, has 600 H1N1 flu shots on a walk-in basis. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

For more information, call 706-657-4213.

Walker County — The health department will begin offering 1,800 H1N1 flu shots by appointment at 603 Villanow St., LaFayette, Ga. Appointments are available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information or an appointment, call 706-638-5577.

Priority recipients are pregnant women; caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age; children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years; people aged 25-64 who have medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease and immunosuppressive disorders, and health care and emergency medical service workers.

Dr. Sellers said the vaccine is free, but clients should bring their private insurance, Medicare, Medicare supplement, PeachCare or Medicaid card as a small administration fee may be charged to their insurance.

“No client will be billed or expected to pay,” he said. “Clients with no insurance will not be charged or expected to pay.”

As more H1N1 vaccine continues to become available, additional opportunities to

receive it will be announced, the release stated.

“This vaccination campaign will last for many weeks and months,” Dr. Sellers said.