SUGAR LAND—In the same week the State of Texas received a massive influx of doses of the H1N1 vaccine; emergency planners in Sugar Land are expressing frustration about continuing delays in the distribution of the doses to local communities. 

“It’s frustrating to us and to the doctors and to the folks dealing with the flu,” said Pat Hughes, the Emergency Management Coordinator for the city of Sugarland.  “We thought we’d have a decent supply at this point and that hasn’t proven out to be the fact,” Hughes added.

To date, the Centers for Disease Control have delivered two-million doses of the swine flu vaccine to Texas. Three-hundred thousand doses were delivered this week alone.  Health officials in Houston say based on population, the Bayou City and surrounding areas should receive 9.2 percent of that amount, or close to 30,000 doses, but it remains unclear when the doses will be distributed.

According to Health officials in Austin, the state distributes doses based on population and local need.  Pregnant women and children remain at the top of the priority list for receiving the vaccine.  Officials say it could be late November before the doses are readily available to the wider population.

Emergency planners in Sugar Land remain skeptical. 

“We’re talking about waiting on the government so that’s no guarantee,” Hughes said.

But while emergency planners remain concerned, some parents say getting the swine flu vaccine is not high on their list of priorities. 

John Perdew and his wife are raising four children, including two small toddlers. 

“Even when it becomes available, we won’t be waiting in any lines and we won’t be giving it to our kids,” Perdew said.