Earlier this year The Selma Times-Journal covered an outbreak of the H1N1 flu in Dallas County.

Schools had reported numerous absences. Although some school officials said they had no confirmation the absences were related to to the H1N1 flu, better known as the swine flu. Health officials said the virus had passed around so much that pretty much any case of flu was diagnosed as swine flu.

Then, all of the sudden, the whirlwind stopped.

Heath officials said there were few cases reported.

That’s the way it is with pandemics, says the Centers for Disease Control. They come in waves.

The Dallas County Health Department has some vaccine for the swine flu.

Health department workers are giving the vaccines to those who are high-risk.

Those include pregnant women, children 6 months though 4 years old; parents, siblings and caregivers of children less than 6 months old; children 5 to 18 years old who have underlying medical conditions; and health care workers.

It’s uncertain how long the doses of this vaccine will last. Those who need the vaccine should go now, so when the next wave rises they will be protected.