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Flu Vaccinations Seem Strong As Season Starts

Posted on: Sunday, 18 September 2005, 18:00 CDT

HEALTH

Few offices have medication but expect delivery before

demand peaks

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people at risk for flu complications should get vaccinated between now and Oct. 24. But don't rush out quite yet. In Santa Fe and elsewhere in the state, few places have received a supply of the flu vaccine.

"Our county public-health offices do not have any flu vaccine yet. Our supply is starting to trickle in, and we will be shipping the shots throughout the state to our 55 public-health clinics," New Mexico Health Department spokeswoman Deborah Busemeyer said Friday.

"Right now, I'd say people should check with their health-care provider to see if they have any available."

People considered at risk are: children between 6 and 23 months; people ages 65 and older; nursing-home residents; people with chronic diseases that require regular medical attention; caregivers of children younger than

6 months; pregnant women; direct-care health workers; and children older than 6 months who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

By the end of September or early October, New Mexico expects to have an ample supply of the vaccine, Busemeyer said.

"We want to encourage those at high risk of complications to get their flu shot first, but we will be flexible with the Oct. 24 date," she said.

After Oct. 24, the vaccine will be made available to everyone nationwide. People displaced by Hurricane Katrina and living in crowded group settings should be vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Last year, shortages of the flu vaccine were a big problem, but that shouldn't be the case this year.

"Right now, the nation has at least

71 million doses, which is about 10 million more than last year," Busemeyer said.

If the FDA approves all the lots produced by vaccine manufacturer Chrion, there will be another approximately 20 million does available, she added, "so our supply's looking good this year."

St. Vincent Regional Medical Center already has the vaccine, according to spokesman Arturo Delgado, but won't hold its first cost- free flu-shot clinic until Oct. 29.

La Familia Medical Center expects to get a shipment within two weeks, according to a receptionist at the center.

Likewise, New Mexico Cancer Care Associates anticipates a supply will arrive by the end of September or early October.

Contact Diana Heil at 986-3066 or dheil@sfnewmexican.com.

Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican

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