Swine Flu Shots May Start Early October

WASHINGTON - Sept. 13, 2009 -- The nation's health secretary says Americans could begin receiving swine flu vaccine shots as early as the first week of October -- which is sooner than expected.

Kathleen Sebelius says the bulk of the vaccine is still scheduled for release nationwide by mid-October. But she says some early doses should begin rolling out sooner. She says the vaccine will be distributed directly to locations across the country and made available for immediate use.

Sebelius says she is confident the swine flue shots will be available soon enough to effectively target the illness. She says success of a one-shot dose for healthy adults and a 10-day immune response to the vaccine will help contain the spread of the flu.

Sebelius appeared on ABC's "This Week."