Spring Break
University's flu shots limited
JOSH BROWN
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Liz Rachun, communications coordinator for the Health Center, said only those who fit into the high-risk category will be able to get flu shots Oct. 12-22.
High-risk groups include children between ages 6 and 23 months, adults who are 65 years or older, pregnant women and those with an underlying chronic illness, including asthma, said Christine Pearson, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
"We usually say those who are concerned about acquiring influenza get a vaccine, but because of the shortage, we're asking those who are not in the groups we listed to forgo the shots this year," Pearson said.
The vaccine shortage was caused Tuesday after the British government prohibited Chiron Corp. from distributing 46 million flu shots -- about half of the United States' supply, according to a news releases from Chiron and the CDC.
Fears of vaccine contamination caused Chiron to delay shipment of the doses in August.
Though only high-risk patients can get the shot initially, after Oct. 22 the Health Center will evaluate how much of the vaccine is left and decide how to administer the remaining doses, Rachun said.
The Health Center ordered 4,000 doses of the flu shot this year. As of Thursday, 2,600 already had arrived, and the rest are scheduled to arrive next week.
But Rachun said she was concerned about the second shipment actually getting to the University.
"According to the company, we are going to get that shipment, but with a situation like this you never know," she said.
On Wednesday, Rachun said, the Health Center anticipated distributing the flu shots as normal this year.
But by Thursday, officials had decided to limit the doses to only those in the high-risk categories, due to an expected increase in demand, Rachun said.
In recent years there has been an increase in University students getting the shots. Last year close to 3,000 students got the vaccine at the Health Center, as opposed to about 2,500 the previous year, Rachun said.
Rodica Toderic, a freshman from Duluth, said she was considering getting a flu shot this year until she heard about the shortage.
"Though I've gotten it in the past, I don't see any reason to get the shot right now unless my roommate gets sick with the flu or something," she said.
On average, 36,000 deaths -- mostly in high-risk groups -- are caused annually by the influenza virus, according to the CDC Web site (www.cdc.gov/flu).
Those in the high-risk categories can get a flu shot for $15 at the Allergy Travel Clinic beginning Tuesday, Oct. 12 through Friday, Oct. 22. For more information, call 542-5575.
