H1N1 flu vaccine study starts at Iowa

The University of Iowa's study of an H1N1 flu vaccine could help determine how the shots are distributed in the United States.

Tom Senneff had no fears about rolling up his sleeve today for what some might consider an experimental vaccine.

In fact, the Korean War veteran and retired assistant University of Iowa law school dean is encouraging fellow Oaknoll Retirement residents to join the same study in which he enrolled.

Senneff, 78, was one of the first volunteers to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine under study at the UI.

Nationwide, more than 3,000 volunteers will be enrolled, ages 6 months and older.

The UI was one of eight sites nationwide chosen by the National Institutes of Health to test a vaccine for the virus, previously called swine flu.

Volunteers getting the shots this week and next at the UI are adults.

Tests are being expedited in a race against a possible resurgence of H1N1 flu, which could happen at the same time seasonal flu strikes this fall.

Because the vaccine is an inactivated virus, participants cannot contract H1N1 from the shots.