More than a quarter of Virginians are now vaccinated against the swine flu, slightly more than the national rate.

State Health Commissioner Karen Remley said the highest rates of vaccination in the commonwealth - 40 percent - were among children six months to 17 years of age, which is a group that is at high risk for flu complications.

Local hospitals resumed normal visiting policies Monday now that flu levels are back to normal. Children younger than 18 had been prohibited from visiting hospitals beginning in October to prevent the spread of swine flu to patients. The pandemic H1N1 flu, known as swine flu, has higher rates among children, who, like others, can carry the virus for 24 hours before showing any symptoms.

RICHMOND Virginia's health commissioner says 36 deaths in the state have been linked to the swine flu outbreak.

The commissioner, Dr. Karen Remley, said Friday that about 30 percent of the deaths occurred among black Virginians, who comprise about 20 percent of the population.

Area hospitals will continue to restrict children from visiting patients through late March as a precaution against the spread of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu.

VIRGINIA BEACH Vaccines for H1N1, or swine flu, will be distributed by the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health at clinics this month. A clinic will be held on Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Plaza Middle School, 3080 S. Lynnhaven Road.

Any Virginian who wants a vaccine for the swine flu is now free to seek one. Previously, the state had asked that only those in high-priority groups step forward for the vaccine that wards against the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. Now that more doses are available, state health commissioner Karen Remley said Monday that she is opening the door to others.

Vaccine for H1N1 flu is starting to become available to the general public and should be even easier to get in the next week. Dr. Karen Remley, Virginia health commissioner, said doctors and health departments already have been instructed to give the vaccine for H1N1, or swine flu, to the general public, not just priority groups such as children, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.

Some local Walgreens pharmacy locations have received the nasal spray vaccine for the H1N1 flu,. The stores will offer the swine flu vaccine to healthy people 9 to 49 years old who are not pregnant. The vaccine costs $18, and those with Medicare or Medicaid insurance can receive it at no charge.

Thousands of doses of recalled H1N1 vaccine landed in Virginia, but health officials say the issue is the potency of the swine flu doses, not the safety. Dr. Diane Helentjaris, director of the state Health Department's H1N1 office, said Virginia received 23,700 doses of the 800,000 vaccines being recalled across the country by manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur.

NORFOLK Children, young adults and day care providers who show up at the Virginia Zoo on Wednesday can get in free if they agree to an extra bonus: a free H1N1 flu vaccine.