Duke Hospital has begun testing vaccinations of the H1N1 flu virus on volunteers.

More than 80 people have already received the experimental shot that doctors hope will protect many North Carolinians from the virus during the fall flu season.

The vaccine is scheduled to be ready for the public around October or November, Dr. Emmanuel "Chip" Walter, director of Duke's Clinical Vaccine Unit, said.

Dr. Walter said it is too early to know how the vaccine is working, but he hopes to have results within a few weeks.

Elichia Moore is one of the volunteers who was injected with swine flu, or at least a small dose of the inactive virus.

"I found it interesting, plus i was hearing about the swine flu," Moore said about why she decided to volunteer. "They keep a close eye on you and they said it was pretty much like a regular flu vaccine."

Walter expects to have enough vaccines to go around by October or November.

If a pandemic starts before the flu vaccine is ready, the state is prepared to release more antiviral medication to people who need it.

However, Walter said it's important for people to not panic.

"The H1N1 virus that's been circulating seems to not be a lot different than previous years seasonal flu," Walter said.