The first of many batches of H1N1 vaccines arrived at UNC this past Wednesday and will be distributed to “high-risk” community members.

Mary Beth Koza, director of the UNC Department of Environment, Health and Safety, says the first group that will receive priority is students and health care workers who are either pregnant or have direct patient contact.

While only a select few will receive the first 3,800 vaccinations, which consist of 3,000 nasal sprays and 800 injectable doses, Koza assures the public that there will be enough for the entire UNC community.

Koza expects the second batch of the about 28,000 the University has ordered to arrive within the next week or two, though there is no guarantee.

The shipment that UNC received vastly differs from the 225 doses that Orange County distributed two weeks ago. People were turned away from the county’s H1N1 clinics when the doses ran out. This came after the public was asked to voluntarily prioritize.

Judy Butler, community health services supervisor for the Orange County Health Department, supports the initial distribution of the vaccination to high-risk citizens and advises the rest of the community to wait for future shipments.

Orange County and UNC will continue to follow the regulations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention until as many community members as possible have been vaccinated.