MADISON, Wis. -- Researchers in eight cities around the country began testing the first vaccines for H1N1, or swine flu, on Monday.

During the next three weeks volunteers will roll up their sleeves for the shots. They receive two H1N1 Vaccines, one seasonal flu shot, and two placebos.

"What we are looking at is both the safety of the vaccine and also the effectiveness by looking at the antibody response to the vaccine itself," said Dr. Sharon Frey, with St. Louis University "And so we measure antibody responses by taking pre-vaccination blood and post-vaccination blood, and comparing the change in the antibody in the vaccine."

A local nurse who got a flu vaccination in 1976, but became sick.

"At that time, we were using live vaccine, so you actually got a small portion of the disease to give you immunity," said Julie Miehe. "And I hence came down with a small case of the swine flu, and got to spend a week in my dorm room."

Miehe, a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital, said people should rest assured that current research uses a killed form of the virus, unlike the 1976 program.

Doctors have since stopped developing vaccines, like the 1976 version, which had harsh side effects including Guillian-Barre Syndrome. Hundreds came down with it, just a few weeks after getting the vaccine, it caused paralysis. Others still wear leg braces.

Health officials said that thye hope to have the H1N1 vaccine by October, and are closely monitoring volunteers for any side effects.