Monday, November 8, 2004
Supply mostly gone in local area
By Matt Leingang
Enquirer staff writer
Most of the public health departments in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are out of the flu vaccine or will be soon.
People who still need the shot are encouraged to seek out what may be left at pharmacies and doctors' offices.
Public health officials urge that only high-risk people get flu shots this year: Children ages 6-23 months, people over 64, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases and health care workers who are directly involved in patient care.
Here's what local health departments are saying about their supply:
• No doses are available at the Northern Kentucky Health District.
In October, 200 were set aside for each of these counties: Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Grant. Nurses began giving the shots in October to people who had made reservations.
For people who are unable to get the vaccine this year, the Health Department is encouraging good hygiene and the use of antiviral medications, when possible. (859) 363-2052.
• Hamilton County General Heath District is out of the vaccine and is awaiting word on additional supplies from the state. (513) 946-7808.
• Cincinnati Health Department began administering flu shots on Oct. 25 at 19 senior centers. All appointments have been filled. All other adult doses at the city's six public health centers are gone. But more pediatric doses are expected to arrive any day. (513) 981-0981.
• Butler County Health Department is out of vaccine. It might receive another shipment from state health officials. Check the county's Web site for updates, www.butlercountyohio.org/health, or call (513) 863-1770.
• Warren County distributed all of its flu shots. It is unclear if it will receive more. (513) 695-1464.
• Clermont County is out of the vaccine. (513) 536-4026.
Steps taken to make best use of vaccine that's available
Flu seasons are notoriously unpredictable, but because of this year's highly publicized flu vaccine shortage, this one could be harsh.
Doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and health departments are reeling from October's surprise announcement that British regulators had suspended the license of a firm that had been expected to produce nearly half of the United States' anticipated 100 million to 105 million vaccine doses.
As a result, healthy Americans are being asked to forgo a flu shot so there is enough vaccine for high-risk individuals, including the very young, the elderly and the chronically ill.
But public health officials say when the flu season hits - probably later this month - there are ways to contain it, most notably with proper hygiene, which can prevent the spread of germs.
The government's plea that healthy people under age 65 forgo the vaccine is freeing up millions of doses for those most at risk. More doses are becoming available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Aventis Pasteur, the only remaining manufacturer of flu vaccine, are working to allocate 22.4 million doses of unshipped vaccine to areas of need throughout the country. But it's not clear if any will end up in the Tristate
