Document text
Shortage keeps flu shots on hold County cancels clinic; situation bleak across state By Bill Kettler If you�re waiting for a flu shot, you�ll probably have to wait a while. But you�ll have lots of company. Jackson County canceled its first flu immunization clinic of the season Wednesday because it had no flu vaccine. Manufacturing problems have made flu vaccines scarce in many areas of Oregon and across the United States. Clinic set Saturday The Medford Medical Clinic will hold a flu-shot clinic on Saturday and Sunday at 555 Black Oak Drive. The cost is $10 for anyone who does not have Medicare coverage. Medicare pays for flu shots for seniors. There is no central source of information that lists all sites where flu shots will be offered. Some shot clinics provide information to the Oregon Health Division, which operates Safenet, a health information telephone line. To find out about flu immunization sites near you, call 800-SAFENET (800-723-3638), between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday . The county typically provides flu vaccine for more than a dozen clinics across Jackson County. All those clinics are on hold until vaccine arrives, and nobody knows when that will be, said Vicki Barbour of Jackson County Public Health Services. "Things are not looking very promising at this point," Barbour said. "There�s not a single county health division (in Oregon) that I�ve talked to that�s gotten any." Medford Medical Clinic, one of the few places that still has vaccine, will hold a flu-shot clinic Saturday and Sunday at 555 Black Oak Drive. Flu shots are recommended for people over age 65 and people with serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. While vaccine supplies are scarce, public health officials have asked immunization providers to immunize only people who are most vulnerable. Barbour said all indicators point to an average flu season. No flu cases have been reported in Oregon, and the flu typically does not arrive here until late November or early December. Barbour said vaccine manufacturers have provided little information about when flu vaccines may arrive. A Web site at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 28 percent of the year�s flu vaccine had been shipped by the end of October. Forty-two percent was expected to be shipped in November, and the balance in December. When in November remains to be seen. "There�s been a lack of information on the manufacturing side," she said. "That makes it very difficult to say anything other than that we do not have any (vaccine) and we don�t know when we�re getting any." Barbour said people who feel a special need to get a flu shot should contact their primary care physician. Some doctors may have a few doses of vaccine or know other vaccine sources. "Nobody gets a lot," she said. "Just enough for their patients." People who came to the county public health office for a flu shot Wednesday found bright yellow signs announcing the cancellation. Most seemed to take it in stride. "We can�t help that, can we?" said Ken Hulburt, of Medford. "Well, at least we got out for the day," said Ellen Burgess, of Medford, as she and her husband, Ralph, headed for their car. Some organizations have received a quantity of flu vaccine despite its scarcity. Providence Medford Medical Center had enough to prepare about 5,000 doses, and the Medford Medical Clinic received about 6,500 doses. The clinic had the good fortune to order its vaccine extremely early, said nurse Lisa Kornstad. Kornstad said the clinic sold some of its vaccine to Sacred Heart Catholic Church to allow the church to proceed with a flu shot clinic it had scheduled on Wednesday. The church would ordinarily use vaccine from Jackson County Public Health. "One of our doctors was at church and heard about their situation," Kornstad said. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.