ATLANTA: Swine flu has been hitting pregnant women unusually hard, so they are likely to be among the first group advised to get a new swine flu shot this fall.

Pregnant women account for 6 percent of US H1N1 virus or swine flu deaths since the pandemic began in April, even though they make up just 1 percent of the US population.

A federal vaccine advisory panel is to meet today to take up the question of who should be first to get H1N1 virus flu shots when there aren't enough for everyone. At the top of the list are health care workers, who would be crucial to society during a pandemic.