Richmond County Health Department will be giving out shots next week against the novel influenza A H1N1 virus, an official announced this morning.

The shots will only be for those in the priority group defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The health department is planning to give out 1,500 doses from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the main clinic at 950 Laney-Walker Blvd., said Emmitt Larry Walker, spokesman for the East Central Health District headquartered in Augusta.

The shots will only be for those in the defined priority group:

@Pregnant women

@Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years old;

@Adults ages 25 to 64 with underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of complications from flu, such as asthma and diabetes;

@Health care workers;

@Caregivers of those under age 6 months.

Columbia County Health Department is also expecting to get 1,300 shots and planned to schedule clinics after the vaccine arrived.

The health department had previously given out nasal vaccine against the new virus but it is only approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49.

The shots will be administered for free but those on the State Health Benefit Plan or Medicaid are asked to bring their cards with them.

An official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that 24.8 million doses had been produced so far. That number will be updated this afternoon.

Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com