Flu vaccine abundant this year
About 75 million doses of flu vaccine should be in most doctor’s offices and clinics by the end of October – a near record amount that should prevent flu shot rationing this year, health officials said Wednesday.
Overall, more than 100 million doses are expected over the next several months, beating the 95 million manufactured in 2002.
“There may still be some lines, but we really think this is promising,” said Anne Schuchat, who heads immunization programs for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The best time for vaccination is in October or November, before the flu season typically begins, CDC officials said.
In 2004, production problems at one manufacturer caused severe shortages and hours-long lines for shots. In September 2005, tight supplies caused doctors to limit shots at first to people at risk of severe complications.
Chicago
Jesse Jackson’s son may run for mayor
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. announced Wednesday that he is exploring a run for mayor of Chicago and said it is “more likely than not” that he will enter the February contest.
While he complimented Mayor Richard Daley, a fellow Democrat, for doing an extraordinary job in some ways, Jackson said, “What I’m hearing from the people is that it’s time for a change.”
The 41-year-old son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson said he would make up his mind after the November congressional election.
Daley is seen by some as politically vulnerable because of federal investigations into allegations of illegal political patronage and payoffs at City Hall. Daley has not formally announced for re-election but has hinted at it, saying he traditionally doesn’t announce his plans until after the fall elections.
Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Shuttle launch delayed again
An electrical problem forced NASA to postpone Wednesday’s liftoff of the space shuttle Atlantis yet again, and engineers faced with a tight launch schedule struggled to understand the problem.
About 11 hours before the scheduled midday launch, engineers discovered that a coolant pump that chills one of the shuttle’s three electricity-generating fuel cells was giving an erratic reading. NASA rules say all three fuel cells must be working to launch.
Managers ruled out a launch attempt today but said Friday was still a possibility.