Posted on: Monday, October 22, 2001

State says flu vaccine in ample supply here

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

Anita Nakamura, the licensed public nurse at the Waimanalo Health center, has given more than 200 flu shots to patients since Oct. 12, hopes to give 200 more. Nakamura has had no problem getting enough vaccines to do the job.

The center is providing flu vaccines every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, until Dec. 28.

Despite worries about a shortage because there are only three instead of four major manufacturers making the vaccine this year, Hawai'i has ample flu vaccines, officials say.

Supplies will last if used first for people over 65 or suffering from chronic disease, the Health Department said.

"It's not a shortage, but a delay," said the department's projects coordinator and health educator Judy Strait-Jones, adding that the problem will be less severe this year than last.

Strait-Jones was commenting on recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that early supplies be reserved for persons at highest risk, and that other people get their flu shots later in the year.

October and November is the best time for shots for people 65 or older, people with a chronic health condition or health care workers, she said. Their household members should also get their shots in November, Strait-Jones said.

But December, January and February are also good times for people to get flu shots if they haven't gotten them earlier, she said.

Free flu shots are being offered through many organizations.

The vaccine is free at Waimanalo for patients under Medicaid or Medicare and for those who are uninsured. It is also free to Med-Quest patients who have the Waimanalo Health Center as their primary care provider.

There will be no out-of-pocket cost at Waimanalo for Med-Quest-Net patients and anyone with private insurance.