The Saginaw County Health Department is delaying the H-1-N-1 vaccine to the public.

It made that decision so that health care workers and the highest priority groups can get the vaccine before it's made available to the masses.

Natasha Coulouris, Health Officer at the Saginaw County Health Department, says "It is our optimistic goal that we will be able to vaccinate any Saginaw County resident who wishes to receive the vaccine."

At an H-1-N-1 media briefing Tuesday afternoon, the Saginaw County Public Health Department laid out details of distribution.

Because doses are slowly trickling in, the department is limiting access to them.

Tawyna Simon, Personal and Preventative Services Director, says "We ask that the public be patient. As the vaccine starts increasing, we will be able to increase the patients we can get the vaccine to."

Looks like it'll be October 26th before the H-1-N-1 vaccine will be available for health care workers.

Then, as supplies stack up, those in the priority groups, such as pregnant women, will be able to get it.

Health officials say, the public should keep in perspective the difference in the H-1-N-1 virus and seasonal flu.

The seasonal flu kills 34,000 people in the U.S. every year.

The Saginaw County Health Department is passing out placards to local schools showing kids how to properly wash their hands.

It's also making hand sanitizers available for schools that request them.