The San Benito County Health Foundation is urging all of its
patients who are considered high-risk for the flu to get vaccinated
at the clinic as soon as possible because it will not be receiving
any more doses once it runs out, according to the executive
director.
Hollister – The San Benito County Health Foundation is urging all of its patients who are considered high-risk for the flu to get vaccinated at the clinic as soon as possible because it will not be receiving any more doses once it runs out, according to the executive director.
The Foundation sent out almost 1,000 letters to its high-risk patients, informing them that the clinic received only 500 doses of the vaccine and once they run out, patients will be unable to be vaccinated, said Executive Director Rosa Vivian Fernandez.
Over 200 doses have already been given out since the Foundation began vaccinating last week, she said.
“Some people in the very, very high-risk category are still out there and we really need to preserve those for them,” Fernandez said. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like anyone else has vaccines in the county.”
The remaining vaccines will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, she said.
If high-risk patients don’t receive their vaccinations in the next couple weeks and the Foundation has extra doses, Fernandez said the clinic may open its doors to the public to dole out the rest.
“We’ll reassess what we can do at that time,” she said.
About half of the nation’s vaccines will not be delivered because major manufacturer, Chiron, had its license to manufacture the vaccine Fluvirin suspended for three months due to contamination problems.
Only high-risk patients, who include children age 6 to 23 months, adults age 65 and older or anyone with a chronic illness, are eligible to receive flu shots this year because of a state mandate.
For more information or questions, call the San Benito County Health Foundation at (831) 637-5306.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety and health issues for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
