Nearly 70 million Americans have received A/H1N1 flu vaccine out of the 147 million doses available, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday.

"About 70 million people have been vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. That translates to about 23.4 percent of Americans having been vaccinated so far," Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC"e;s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during an afternoon press conference.

"We think that at least 76 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been given, because we recommend two doses for all children under 10, and 37 percent (of children) have gotten their second dose," Schuchat added.

A poll released Friday by the Harvard School of Public Health also found that 21 percent of adult Americans had received the A/H1N1 vaccination and another 16 percent indicated they were planning to do so this month.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government announced Friday on its web site that, as of Jan. 29, it has allocated more than 147 million doses of the A/H1N1 flu vaccine to all the 50 states across the country.

Schuchat said the U.S. government has ordered 229 million doses of bulk antigen of A/H1N1 vaccine, and 155 million doses of the vaccine have already been filled and finished by the manufacturers.

"It"e;s really easy to get vaccinated now, and we hope people will take advantage of that," Schuchat said. "There"e;re extensive opportunities for people to be vaccinated, with vaccines in doctors"e; offices, health departments, many school clinics and pharmacies throughout the country."

"H1N1 flu activity seems to have leveled off, but the virus does continue to circulate, causing illness, hospitalizations and deaths," warned Schuchat, stressing that no experts know exactly what will happen in the weeks and months ahead.

Source: Xinhua