The Dallas County health department received 22,900 doses of swine flu vaccine Friday and plans to distribute them all before Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, Collin County received 8,600 more doses of the vaccine Friday, bringing to more than 15,000 the number available there.

In both counties, priority will be given to pregnant women, people who care for infants, health care and emergency medical personnel, children and young adults up to 24 years old, and adults ages 25 to 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for the flu.

In Dallas County, the health department will open three public health clinics Monday and Tuesday. Shots will be administered by appointment only at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway in Dallas, 2774 Valwood Parkway in Farmers Branch and 440 S. Nursery Road in Irving.

The county also will offer a shot clinic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Belt Line Road in Richardson. It will also operate by appointment only.

The shots are for Dallas County residents. To schedule an appointment for any of the clinics, call 214-819-6001.

About 16,000 of the doses Dallas County received Friday were delivered to pharmacies. By working essentially as a depot and broadening the distribution of vaccine to pharmacies and churches, the health department is able to give the public easier access to the vaccine, agency director Zachary Thompson said.

"The lack of vaccine we've seen nationally has caused a lot of confusion," Thompson said. "We've filled the gaps through partnerships."

The pace of the swine flu outbreak appears to have slackened. Emergency room visits and school absentee rates are at normal levels.

Still, the county wants to be ready if there's an increase in cases during the holiday season, said Dr. John Carlo, the county's medical director.

"We cannot make a prediction as to what to expect," Carlo said.

In Collin County, the vaccine will be available starting today at Tom Thumb stores, Walgreen pharmacies, PrimaCare at 3304 Alma Drive in Plano, PrimaCare at 1920 W. Eldorado Parkway in McKinney, Express Health at 1505 Harroun St. in McKinney and Texas Star Pharmacy at 3033 W. Parker Road in Plano.

County officials have been upset that the Texas Department of State Health Services didn't send more doses sooner. Collin County Health Care Services has asked for 42,550 doses and now has received 15,600.

For updates on the vaccine availability, call 211 or 972-548-5500, or visit www.texas flu.org.

jnielsen@dallasnews.com; ehousewright@dallasnews.com