The swine flu virus vaccine is expected in theater Sunday, and it could be available to active-duty personnel and individuals with certain underlying medical conditions as early as next week, military officials in Europe said.

But since the vaccine is being produced and shipped in separate batches, there’s no word on a vaccine arrival date for the population at large, which includes Defense Department civilians, contractors and family members without high-risk medical conditions.

U.S. European Command spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Ivy Kupec said Thursday that priority for the vaccine dosages arriving first will be given to all military personnel, including deploying troops, health care workers and anyone serving on ships or submarines.

Also eligible for the same vaccine are patients with medical conditions that put them at higher risk of developing serious complications from the H1N1 virus. These conditions include: pregnancy; asthma, diabetes and the human immunodeficiency virus.

Children under 10 will require two shots, separated by four weeks.

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