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Full supply of flu vaccine expected to be available By BILL KETTLER While anthrax makes headlines across the United States, Southern Oregon has started preparations for the influenza season. Flu-shot clinics for seniors and people with health problems will begin Saturday, and clinics for the general public will begin Nov. 1. Jackson County public health officials said Tuesday that flu vaccine is more plentiful than it was last year, when manufacturing delays forced cancellation of a number of immunization clinics. "I think there's going to be enough this year," said Susan Bizeau, a county public health nurse. Physicians recommend flu shots for people over the age of 65 and people with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Many people over age 50 choose to be immunized in hopes of avoiding a nasty case of flu. Most hospitals and county health departments can expect to receive at least half of the vaccine they ordered by the end of October, said Martha Priedeman of the Oregon Health Division's immunization program. Southern Oregon did not receive its full complement of flu vaccine until late December last year. Priedeman said the vaccine's late arrival prompted many people to skip a flu shot, thinking it wouldn't be effective. But the injection offers protection against influenza within two weeks, and Oregon's flu season typically peaks in late January or early February. "If you can't get vaccine before December, you should still seek it in December," Priedeman said. "People just aren't accustomed to seeking immunization that late." Hospitals and health-care organizations order their vaccine in February for the following winter. Manufacturers expect to distribute about 79 million doses of vaccine this year, according to information posted on a Web site maintained by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 87 percent of the vaccine should be available by the end of November. Health officials have scheduled immunization clinics on the assumption that they'll receive the vaccines they requested at the times the vaccines were promised. Some have decided to postpone publicizing their immunization sites until they're sure they have enough vaccine in hand. "It's better than last year," said Karen Bartalini, who supervises flu clinics for Providence Medford Medical Center. "They're distributing a little bit to everybody." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.