Insurance company to cover swine flu vaccine

An Illinois health insurance company says it will cover swine flu shots for its members, even those in plans that don't normally cover immunizations.

UnitedHealthcare of Illinois announced the coverage Monday. The company's chief of medical affairs, Dr. Reed Tuckson, says it's important to remove barriers to ensure the widest possible administration of the vaccine.

Testing is under way on the new vaccine. Five companies are manufacturing it in a race to rebuff a second wave in the global epidemic. Federal officials expect some vaccine to be available by October.

Since April, nearly 400 Illinois residents have been hospitalized with swine flu and 17 have died.