Dallas County residents have a chance to get the flu shot again today, but if yesterday was any indication, they’d best come early.

At the Dallas County Health Department, 200 of the county’s 800 influenza vaccine doses were distributed in about two-and-a-half hours yesterday morning.

“We had a very good turnout and we were out of medicine at 10 a.m.,” Linda Canada, Health Department Registered Nurse said.

The department started administering the doses at 7:30 a.m.

Dallas County was allotted 800 doses by the state to distribute among residents deemed “at-risk.” Only at-risk patients are eligible for the vaccine.

Those eligible to receive vaccine are Individuals 65 and older, people with chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease, pregnant women, nursing home residents, health care workers who care for high-risk groups, youngsters six to 23 months, children on aspirin therapy, and anyone who lives with or cares for babies younger than six months.

The state also implemented a scheduling system to administer doses, based on a potential patient’s last name.

Yesterday, the department administered doses to area patients who’s last name ended with the letters A-D.

Today, starting at 7:30 a.m., the department will administer doses to potential patients who’s last name ends with the letters E-J.

“People need to be aware they need to come on the day they’re scheduled,” Canada said.

Health department administrator, Ashton Parikh, said people have been very patient with the department. He wanted to thank everyone who came out and received the shots.

“People were really nice,” Parikh said. “I’m sorry we ran out.”

Federal officials report that another 61 million doses are scheduled to be shipped later in the year. The flu season starts in January in the South.

During a news conference Tuesday in Jackson, Miss., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services representatives relayed the “don’t panic” message as part of a nationwide tour meant to ease fears of the elderly and others waiting in long lines for flu vaccines.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.