Poll: One-third can find, get swine flu vaccine

MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

ATLANTA — Only about a third of adults who have tried to get a swine flu vaccine have been able to get it, according to a new national poll.

That's true even for people are at extra risk for severe complications and should be at the front of the line. The numbers are about the same for parents who tried to get the vaccine for their higher-risk children, the Harvard School of Public Health poll found.

Swine flu vaccine has been available in the United States for about a month. But supplies have been limited because of manufacturing delays. The shots are only supposed to be go to those at high risk of complications.

The Harvard School of Public Health telephone poll also found that half of those who tried couldn't find information about where to get the vaccine. The survey of 1,000 adults was conducted last weekend and the results released Friday. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

Swine flu is widespread in 48 states, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

CDC officials said 129 children have died from swine flu complications since the virus was first identified in April. The government does not keep a close count of all swine flu deaths, but estimates the number is above 1,000. Many millions of Americans have been infected with the virus, though most suffered only mild illness, health officials say.