FLU VACCINE IN SHORT SUPPLY.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer Doctors across Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and Ventura counties are running out of flu vaccine, prompting rationing for the most vulnerable patients, officials said Friday. Faced with a nationwide delay in flu vaccine production, Dr. Frank Balderrama guards a small cache of medicine set aside for seniors and other high-risk patients in his Van Nuys practice. ``We're still short, unfortunately,'' Balderrama said. ``We have a small quantity - but not enough to fill the needs of all our patients.'' It's no better at hospitals and public health clinics. Los Angeles County health officials predict vaccine will run dry next week and clinics will have to be canceled. Ventura and Orange county health departments already have suspended clinics until more vaccine is available. ``Based on the quantity of vaccine used to date, it looks like the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. will be one of those areas to be impacted,'' said Cheri Todoroff, director of Los Angeles County immunization programs In the 1950s, medical breakthroughs resulted in new vaccines to combat such diseases as polio and measles. States responded by requiring mandatory immunization for schoolchildren. One result was the near eradication of diseases that had previously been crippling or fatal. . Kaiser Permanente is also out. ``All of California is out right now. It's a shame,'' said Socorro Serrano, a spokeswoman for Kaiser Permanente. Because of the shortage, many doctors have been abiding by federal recommendations that shots go to elderly people, pregnant women in their second and third trimesters and those with chronic illnesses and weakened immune systems. Influenza caused 20,000 American deaths last year. Doctors and agencies said they expect more vaccine in a week or two. ``We shall continue to focus only on high-priority people,'' Lynn Glusac, immunization immunization: see immunity; vaccination. coordinator the Ventura County Health Department. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. reports manufacturers have had trouble producing the A/Panama influenza vaccine influenza vaccine Flu vaccine A vaccine recommended for those at high risk for serious complications from influenza: > age 65; Pts with chronic diseases of heart, lung or kidneys, DM, immunosuppression, severe anemia, nursing home and other chronic-care , delaying shipments of an estimated 77 million doses nationwide. Flu shots typically are given in September and October, but only 28 percent of the entire batch was shipped in October, 42 percent will go out this month and the remaining 30 percent by January. CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation spokesman Chuck Fallis said people should try to get shots. ``The vaccine only takes two weeks to take effect, and the flu season lasts through April.'' Though a 7-year-old boy was reported to have the flu in West Los Angeles
FLU SHOTS For information about free county flu shots in Los Angeles County, call (800) 427-8700, or refer to www.lapublichealth.org. In Ventura County, call (805) 652-5754. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Paula Cover, a nurse from Tres Immune Inc., prepares a flu vaccine for a patient in Burbank. Tres Immune will be donating a portion of the fees to charity. John McCoy/Staff Photographer Box: FLU SHOTS (See text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion