FALL FESTIVAL CLINIC FOR FLU SHOTS IS OFF.Byline: Daily News PALMDALE - Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Hospital has canceled its free flu shot clinic planned Saturday at the Palmdale Fall Festival as a result of the national flu vaccination shortage. With half the flu vaccine The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. The annual flu kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States. destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. for the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. scrapped Tuesday because of tainted manufacturing processes at its British manufacturer, Antelope Valley Hospital will reserve the small supply it has on hand for its employees who directly care for patients, an announcement said. ``Should the shortage be alleviated and we receive an adequate shipment of the flu vaccine, we will announce it to the community at that time,'' hospital pharmacy director Rick Rowe said in the hospital statement. Most people who need flu shots should be able to get them through their doctors, hospital officials said. Health officials said limited supplies will have to be rationed, targeting the elderly, toddlers, pregnant women and those with heart and lung disease lung disease Pulmonary disease Pulmonology Any condition causing or indicating impaired lung function Types of LD Obstructive lung disease–↓ in air flow caused by a narrowing or blockage of airways–eg, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis; , diabetes or other chronic ailments and immune deficiencies, rather than healthy adults and children over age 2. Los Angeles County health officials said they expect to decide today about what to do about the flu shot clinics they normally host at senior citizen centers and elsewhere. Of the 130,000 doses Los Angeles County health officials expected to receive this year, 100,000 were to come from Chiron Corp., whose Liverpool plant was shut down by British regulators, preventing shipment of its Fluvirin vaccine. Only one other company, Aventis Pasteur, mass-produces the vaccine. Los Angeles County ordered 30,000 doses from the other manufacturer, but has only received 15,000 so far. Flu vaccinations are recommended for people age 65 years and older, children age six months to 23 months, pregnant women and people with heart disease, asthma, and other chronic heart and lung disorders, diabetes, kidney diseases, blood disorders blood disorders, n.pl hematologic dyscrasias that affect the component cells and plasma elements of the blood. They are generally divided into two broad groups: those in which an increase in bulk occurs (e.g. , metabolic and immunosuppression immunosuppression Suppression of immunity with drugs, usually to prevent rejection of an organ transplant. Its aim is to allow the recipient to accept the organ permanently with no unpleasant side effects. disorders. Flu shots are also recommended for nursing home residents, people who take care of infants under age 6 months, and health care workers. |
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