Flu vaccine shortage becomes emergency Flu vaccine shortage becomes emergency (October 29, 2004)

Hospital reserving its stash

By Huong C. Pham

While Santa Clara County remains in a local state of emergency over the shortage of flu vaccines, El Camino Hospital is holding on to its doses for its employees and in-patients.

Health care providers were recently ordered by the county's public health department to screen patients meticulously, in order to distribute the vaccine to those who are considered to be most as risk.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors also formally approved the continuation of a local state of emergency due to the shortage.

"We're expecting for the state to receive additional vaccines in the next couple of weeks," said Joy Alexiou, a spokesperson for the county health department.

One of the vaccine suppliers, Aventis Pasteur, a French pharmaceutical company, is continuing to make shipments up until January, said Alexiou.

Currently, the county health department is encouraging members of the public, who are at most risk from becoming gravely ill from the flu, to turn to their health care providers to obtain the vaccine.

El Camino Hospital, which purchased 6,152 doses of the vaccine, plans to reserve and distribute the remaining 2,600 doses to employees and in-patients, said Judy Twitchell, a hospital spokesperson.

The vaccines are also being distributed to people participating in outreach programs, such as the RotaCARE clinic, that provide free medical assistance to those who can't afford it, Twitchell added.

However, because of the shortage, other clinics that are capable of administering the shots may no longer be available to do so.

"Some physicians may or may not provide any vaccines," said Alexiou.

The number of doses being distributed locally and countywide is currently unknown, she added, because each supplier orders its own vaccines.

The county health department urges that only children, people over 65, and people who have a chronic medical condition receive vaccinations.

"[Healthy people] can catch the flu, but they are unlikely to suffer serious complications," said Alexiou.

E-mail Huong C. Pham at hpham@mv-voice.com.
Bay City News contributed to this report.

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