More than 30,000 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine have been shipped to Hawaii, but only the most at-risk people will be eligible for the drug, health officials say.

Priority in distributing the vaccine will be given to the five targeted groups established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: pregnant women, caregivers of children younger than six months, health care and emergency medical services personnel; anyone between six months of age and 24, particularly young adults through 24 years old; and anyone 25 to 49 with underlying health conditions.

After these groups have received their influenza vaccine, then the rest of the public can get vaccinated, said Janice Okubo, state Department of Health spokeswoman.

The current supply includes 18,400 doses of the injectable influenza and 14,400 doses in the form of nasal spray.

No date has been set yet to distribute the vaccine to the general public.

"The start of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine campaign has been challenging, with orders being placed and filled incrementally," said Dr. Sarah Park, head of the state Department of Health's Disease Outbreak and Control Division.

"We continue to order and receive more vaccine in both nasal spray and injectable shot forms as the CDC makes more supplies available."

The 300 to 400 vaccine providers around the state have been busy fielding calls and delivering doses to a steady stream of doctors and their staff.

At Shiige Drugs in Hilo, the pharmacy has been giving the vaccine to doctors and their office staff.

"A lot of the physician staff know that the flu that's around now is the H1N1," said Mel Chow, Shiige Drugs pharmacist. "We just got our vaccine in this week. They are hearing about it and we're informing them that we have it."

Oahu's first responders were given nasal spray doses last weekend at clinics held for first responders who were working.

On Oahu, five clinics were held at hospitals and two fire stations. Although more than 1,000 were eligible, only about 400 took advantage of the free vaccination.

"It was a limited delivery with specific times targeted for a select group, basically the day shift," said Mel Kaku, director of the city's Department of Emergency Management. "We had wanted a greater number to take advantage of the program, but there were some screening criteria."

The nasal spray immunizations can only be given to those who are age 2 to 49 and in good health.

"We're encouraging our folks to take the opportunity to get inoculated, not only to protect themselves and their family, but also the people they come in contact with," Kaku said.

"We need our people on the front line not to be out with the flu."

At the same time, as more H1N1 vaccines are coming into the state, Hawaii students are being given vaccines for seasonal flu through Dec. 3 as part of the "Protect Hawaii's Keiki: Stop Flu at School" program that is expected to inoculate more than 68,000 elementary and middle school students in 334 public, private and charter schools.

Students in elementary and middle school will get a second flu shot offered next month for H1N1, health officials have said. Health officials will make an announcement when the shot or nasal spray is available to all groups of people, Okubo said.

"They're rolling it out to the states as fast as they can manufacture it," Okubo said. "Before you go, you should call in advance to make sure there is still a supply."