Some Flu Vaccinations Available

Sat., Nov. 11, 2000

From Staff

The flu vaccine has trickled in to the Spokane area, but health officials still are targeting only high-risk patients for vaccination.

The Spokane Regional Health District may hold a flu clinic next week, but is strongly recommending that only people with a high risk of developing complications from the flu get vaccinated now, said Dr. Kim Thorburn, health officer for the district.

Those considered at high risk include people over 65, pregnant women in the third trimester, health care workers and people with a chronic disease, such as asthma.

The flu vaccine usually is delivered in October. But this year, vaccine manufacturers had difficulty growing a flu strain included in this year’s vaccine.

“The good news is we still aren’t seeing influenza,” Thorburn said. “There’s no indication that it’s spreading in the population.”

The health district expects a full supply of the vaccine in the next few weeks. Once it arrives, everyone will be eligible for vaccination.

Information on when the next flu clinic will take place is available at 324-1643.

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