With the H1N1 vaccine in high demand but in short supply, many of you are wondering when you can line up for your shot.  It all depends on which tier you fall under. So far, only those in tier one have been targeted at mass vaccination clinics across the state and they may continue to be a priority group for quite a while.

Last week's H1N1 vaccine clinics across the state attracted thousands of children, their parents and caregivers but there were still hundreds of vaccinations left over when the clinics shut their doors.

It begs the question, should these mass vaccination clinics target more than just tier one?

"We're really rolling it out to the populations that have that high risk," Sioux Falls Public Health Director Judy Buseman said.

Buseman says by vaccinating tier one now, they're following strict guidelines set up by state and federal health officials.

Tier one includes: pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants younger than six months, kids six months to four years old, children five to 18 years with chronic health conditions, and health care and emergency medical workers

They are considered at highest risk for the H1N1 flu.

Tier two includes: kids five to 18 years old, adults 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions, and young adults 19 to 24.

Right now, 73 percent of confirmed H1N1 cases in South Dakota are children younger than 19 years old.

So why aren't all kids, no matter their medical condition, getting the vaccine?

"We'd all like it to be different. We'd like to have all our vaccine yesterday and be able to deliver it today. But we're working with a limited amount so we're rolling it out in various methods," Buseman said.

The state health department projects those in tier two will be able to get the vaccine in the next couple of weeks but that depends on how much is sent to the state.

As of late last week, South Dakota had received just over 62,000 doses. And shipments are expected weekly. 

There are more clinics scheduled this week for those that fall under tier one. You can find them in Pierre, Faulkton, Sioux Falls, and Brookings. For more information, visit the South Dakota Department of Health's Web site.