Army health clinics in Europe will begin giving the swine flu vaccine to children 6 months to 4 years old using a shipment expected to arrive around Thanksgiving, officials say.

Europe Regional Medical Command decided to limit who can receive the Sanofi-Pasteur H1N1 flu vaccine because the shipment contains only 2,000 doses, according to a news release issued on Friday.

Children 6 months to 4 years old was the age group where the vaccine had the highest potential to prevent serious illness and that hadn’t been afforded any vaccine yet, according to Col. Theresa Moser, director of ERMC’s Force Health Protection.

“More vaccine is destined to come our way, and eventually we expect to have enough for everyone,” Moser said.

She urged those seeking the vaccine to contact their clinic before they go.

Clinics will coordinate with garrison leaders to let communities know when the vaccine will be ready to administer, she said.

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