Posted on: Thursday, October 14, 2004
State keeps eye on flu vaccine
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer
State health officials may know as early as tomorrow how clinics and doctors will distribute thousands of doses of flu vaccine that were put in reserve after news of a nationwide vaccine shortage hit last week.
Tips from health officials on avoiding the flu:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Stay home when you are sick. • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. • Wash your hands often. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Source: State Health Department About a dozen officials are discussing the best way to get the vaccine to people at highest risk of serious complications from the flu. They are trying to determine the best recommendations for the vaccine doses that were originally earmarked for distribution at public clinics such as those run by HMSA at Longs Drugs and by The Medical Corner at Times Super Markets.
"We realize that this is a tough situation, for the public and many providers, because there simply is not enough vaccine for everyone who wants it," Park said.
Since the shortage was announced, state and federal officials have recommended that flu shots be reserved for those at highest risk. They include babies 6 to 23 months old; people 65 and older; anyone with a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma, heart or lung disease; pregnant women; residents of nursing homes and long-term-care facilities; healthcare workers who tend to high-risk groups; people who care for infants; and children on aspirin therapy.
Health officials recommend that most healthy people skip the flu shot this year because of a shortage caused when manufacturer Chiron Corp. was prohibited by British authorities from distributing about 46 million doses this year, roughly half the U.S. supply.
Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said the department got a poor response from a survey of healthcare providers that aimed to determine what vaccine is remaining, who has been vaccinated and how many high-risk patients remain without the shots.
"It's going to be up to the public to step aside if they're healthy to allow those who really, really need it to get it," Okubo said.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
Dr. Sarah Park, of the Health Department's disease outbreak and control division, was among those meeting yesterday with medical, insurance and long-term-care organizations to help set priorities for the remaining vaccine.
Ways to guard against the flu
