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Swine flu vaccines will be available as early as Oct. 5, hopefully just in time to blunt the advance of a widening outbreak of the H1N1 virus, health officials said.

Visits to the doctor for flu-related symptoms are on the rise at a higher-than-average rate, with 26 states currently reporting widespread flu activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses," the CDC Website says.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has purchased 250 million doses of the vaccine from five different companies, according to USA Today.

Many states will begin ordering the vaccines on Wednesday.

The vaccines will be available at not only hospitals, clinics and public health departments, but also schools, pharmacies and stores, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday.

Although the vaccination is free, clinics can charge a fee to administer it.