Flu Shots Delayed By Shortage

Thu., Oct. 26, 2000

By Lorie Hutson lorieh@spokesman.com (509) 459-5446

A delay in the supply influenza vaccines nationwide has stalled the Spokane Regional Health District’s flu clinic the Spokane Valley.

Dr. Kim Thorburn said the health district exhausted its supply of 1,500 shots last week but expects to receive another small shipment by the end of this week.

The vaccine has been delayed this year because manufacturers had a hard time growing one of the flu strains. The flu vaccine is reformulated each year to protect people against the three strains of the virus experts expect to be most prevalent.

As soon as the health district receives the new shipment of about 800 doses, it will begin offering the vaccine again between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday and Thursday at the Valley clinic, 9210 E. Valleyway.

“As long as the supply (is) to be intermittent and delayed we will continue to urge that it be administered only to those at high risk,” Thornburn said.

That includes people 65 and older, anyone with chronic illnesses such heart or lung disease, patients in long-term care centers, and pregnant women in their second or third trimester.

Thornburn said the health district usually receives a 5,000-dose shipment of the vaccine by the end of September. This year, she doesn’t expect to see the bulk of the order until November.

But when the supplies do arrive, Thornburn said it won’t be too late fo people with a lower risk of getting the virus to have their flu shot. The flu season in Washington runs from October through the end of March.

This sidebar appeared with the story: FLU SHOTS

To find out if the flu vaccine is available at the Spokane Regional Health District’s Spokane Valley clinic, call the health district’s flu vaccine hot line at 324-1643.

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