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GREENSBORO — As the state prepares to request more swine flu vaccine, counties are doling out their first round.

The state will order 108,000 doses of the injectable version and 72,500 doses of the nasal spray next week, said Lori Walston, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

State officials tried to submit their order Friday but ran into computer problems, she said. Monday is the Columbus Day holiday, which means Tuesday is the soonest the next order can be placed.

“How quickly it will come, I’m reluctant to put a time frame on it,” Walston said.

But the first round — 52,200 doses of nasal spray — was shipped to county health departments and four large providers of pediatric care this week a few days after being ordered.

Each county determined how to distribute its allotment.

The Guilford County Department of Public Health limited its 2,100 doses to children ages 2 to 17. The department vaccinated 186 walk-ins Friday at its clinics, said Steve Ramsey, the county’s health preparedness director.

Part of its allotment went to its pediatric acute health care provider, Guilford Child Health. No details were available on how many vaccinations were given there Friday.

“All of our appointments are booked through Monday, but we’re continuing to take appointments,” Ramsey said. “We hope to have this first lot administered by the end of next week.”

Rockingham is giving most of its doses to children in the Head Start preschool program. Those who signed consent forms this week will be transported to the health department Tuesday to get vaccinated, said Glenn Martin, the county’s health director.

Rockingham also gave 40 doses to Morehead Memorial Hospital for employees who work with high-risk patients. The rest will be first-come, first-served for EMS workers, health department employees and child care providers, he said.

Randolph received 700 doses, which will be given at the health department by appointment for those in the high-risk groups, said Health Director Mimi Cooper.

“Our phones are ringing steadily,” Cooper said. “It won’t take us long to give out 700 doses.”

She said a fourth refrigerator had to be bought to house the vaccine. The nasal spray packets take up more space then the injectable form, she said.

“People have been very understanding and patient on the phone,” Cooper said.

Cooper and Martin said they want to set up clinics in schools once enough vaccine arrives to inoculate the general public.

Alamance County is giving its first 200 doses to health care and EMS workers, said Eric Nickens, health department spokesman. When enough vaccine arrives, the county will set up clinics for the public, Nickens said.

“We’re just waiting on the vaccine,” he said.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer. fernandez@news-record.com