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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 18, 2004 Flu shots given to those at risk By Emily Morris Tidings Correspondent Family practitioners throughout the county have received a limited number of flu vaccines, and will be contacting high-risk patients to come in for their immunization shot, said a Jackson County representative. Throngs of seniors, stretching several blocks, line up for flu shots Thursday downtown at Ashland Drug. Denise Baratta Ashland Daily Tidings There is a nationwide shortage of influenza vaccinations. The U.S. depends on two major suppliers for their vaccine; this year one of them, Chiron Corp., based in the United Kingdom, was unable to deliver the vaccinations because of contamination fears. The U.S. received only about 50 percent of the vaccinations it did last year. Jackson County has 26 percent, said Hank Collins, director of health and human services for Jackson County. "It was luck of the draw," Collins said. "Nearly everyone here who gives a significant amount of shots had ordered from the wrong place." Because of the shortage there will be no more public flu clinics, Collins said. The county has adopted a strategy to immunize those most at risk; pregnant women, children 6 to 23 months, health care providers with direct patient contact, seniors, and residence and staff of nursing homes. People in good health are asked not to receive the vaccination. Fortunately, there is nothing to indicate that this will be a bad flu season, said Collins. People can protect themselves with basic hygiene practices such as covering your month when you couch and washing your hands, he said. If you are sick stay home from work and school, and especially high-risk patients, Collins said. The influenza virus is a contagious respiratory illness ranging from mild to severe. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu, about 36,000 cases are fatal each year. Collins said he hopes the government will make changes so that the U.S. is not relying on foreign suppliers. "This is ridiculous, we've had problems [with vaccinations] for the past five years now," he said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams