More flu vaccine arrives
Flu vaccine clinics have been scheduled in Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint after Panhandle Health District received about 2,300 doses to distribute in the five northern counties of Idaho.
The vaccine arrived Oct. 29.
“It just showed up, and we thought it was Christmas,” said Panhandle Health District spokeswoman Susan Cuff.
With a national vaccine shortage looming, the health district had reported to Idaho public health officials how much vaccine it had ordered and how much had come in.
Local officials assume the recent shipment from Aventis Pasteur is part of the redistribution authorized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cuff said.
In North Idaho, flu shots will be given to adults age 65 or older and people ages 2 to 64 with chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes.
Each county’s health district office will decide how to make the vaccine available.
In Kootenai County, the new doses will be distributed to the North Idaho Cancer Center for use with patients and to nursing homes.
Bonners Ferry will give about 150 flu shots Nov. 12 at Bonners Ferry High School, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until the supply runs out.
Sandpoint’s flu shot clinic will be Nov. 22 at the Bonner Mall, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until the supply runs out.
Sandpoint will have about 300 doses.
Flu shots are $15 and are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Cash, check, credit and debit cards also are accepted. Panhandle Health will not bill private insurance carriers.
The health district offices in St. Maries and Kellogg have not announced distribution plans.
For up-to-date information about flu clinics in North Idaho, call the flu shot hotline at (208) 415-5299.
The United States lost half its flu vaccine supply for this season when Chiron Corp.’s plant was shut down by British regulators because of contamination.
Panhandle Health District has already distributed 2,800 doses.
The health district had ordered a total of 7,500 doses, but has received about 5,100 doses.