Health care workers and emergency management personnel in Mower County should be able to receive H1N1 flu vaccinations by the end of the week, a local health official said Monday.

Community health director Margene Gunderson said communities will be receiving vaccine supplies from the state and administer them to people deemed a top priority.

Because health care workers and emergency management personnel will be working directly with people who have the flu, they will receive vaccinations first, Gunderson said.

After that, she said pregnant women, school-age children and people who work with youth will likely be next in line to receive vaccinations.

The general public should then be eligible, though Gunderson said she is not sure of a timetable.

The vaccinations that will ship this week will be FluMists, not traditional needle-delivered doses.

Pregnant women and people over the age of 49 are unable to receive the mist, but Gunderson said she is unsure of when the traditional shots will be ready.

Gunderson said she is unaware of any confirmed cases of H1N1 in the county, but often people with the flu don’t have their cases confirmed because it requires additional lab work.

Gunderson did say there has been an increase in flu-like symptoms locally, with a further spike expected, especially at the schools.

She said people with H1N1 can generally stay home and recover with rest and fluids, but if symptoms are particularly bad or persistent, Gunderson said an individual should call a doctor.

For more on H1N1, visit the state department of health’s website at www.health.state.mn.us, or go to www.flu.gov, the federal government’s site dedicated to the flu.