On Thursday, Northern Kentucky health department officials announced they received 800 doses of flu vaccine - double what had been expected. Each of the four county health centers will receive 200 doses for high-risk patients who live in Boone, Kenton, Campbell or Grant counties.

The shipments arrived as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention struggled to ensure that the youngest, oldest and sickest people - those most vulnerable to influenza - have first access to flu shots after the nation's supply was cut in half.

Starting at 8 a.m. today,health centers in the four counties will start taking reservations. Residents who fall into one or more of the high-risk categories can reserve a flu shot by calling the health center in their county. No walk-in reservations will be accepted.

Call the Boone County Health Center at (859) 363-2060; Campbell County Health Center, (859) 431-1704; Grant County Health Center, (859) 824-5074; and Kenton County Health Center, (859) 431-3345."We're advising people to call first thing (today) for a reservation," said Dr. Gary Crum, director of the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department. "Our phones have been ringing off the hook with people wanting flu shots."

Callers should stay on a ringing line until someone answers, he said.

Northern Kentucky's flu shots will be given at the end of October or early November to people with reservations, Crum said. Patients must show a driver's license or other proof of residence for that county.

"It's our understanding that this is it," Crum said. "We won't be getting any more flu vaccine."

In Greater Cincinnati, health departments are asking private providers to reserve existing doses for people who fall into high-risk categories. Those include children 6 to 23 months; adults over 65; nursing home residents; pregnant women; people 2 to 64 with chronic medical conditions; children 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy; health care workers involved in direct patient care; and out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months old.

Here's the latest on Greater Cincinnati flu shot clinics:

•  The Butler County Health Department has temporarily run out of flu vaccine but is scheduled to receive another shipment at the end of the month. Health officials will publicize when more is available. Also check www.butlercountyohio.org/health.

•  In Hamilton County, a flu shot clinic planned for Saturday is filled. By 9 p.m. Wednesday, 2,000 people had signed up, said spokeswoman Paula Smith. Only people with a reservation will be allowed through the clinic doors at their scheduled time.

•  Clermont County has nine clinics scheduled this fall. Shots will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. The first is 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Felicity Social Center, 2002 Main St. (513) 536-4026.

•  Warren County has clinics for high-risk patients from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdayand 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday. The health department is at 416 S. East St., Lebanon. (513) 695-1464.

•  The Cincinnati Health Department is no longer taking reservations for flu shot clinics at senior centers. However, the health department is trying to get more vaccine and will let the public know if it does.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com