A plan to get the vaccine to those most at risk of developing complications from the flu is expected to be announced in the next few days, Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said.

Officials are trying to determine the best allocation of the doses that were earmarked for distribution at public clinics such as those run by HMSA at Longs Drugs and by The Medical Corner at Times Super Markets.

Doctors, meanwhile, were being urged to be judicious in screening patients who request flu shots, Okubo said.

Healthy adults also were being asked to forgo vaccinations this year as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advised since the nationwide vaccine shortage was announced last week.

"People who are at high risk for complications, they might have irreversible results from getting the flu," Okubo said. "Someone who is healthy, they'll likely recover."