Oregon Public Broadcasting

A manufacturing delay means swine flu vaccine is arriving more slowly in Northwest states than health officials had expected.

Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky says the vaccine that is here continues to be reserved for priority groups such as pregnant women, young people and people with chronic conditions.

Mary Selecky: “We are getting vaccine into the state. It's being delivered every couple of days. But the amount that is coming in is less than the manufacturers had anticipated.”

Selecky said Monday all states are receiving about 30 percent fewer doses than they planned for. That means some large community vaccination events may have to be delayed by about two weeks.

Federal health officials say eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants one.

Meanwhile, Selecky says the swine flu is “hitting hard.”

The Washington State health department has tallied seven deaths probably attributable to H1N1 in the last two weeks.