California might miss swine flu inoculation goal because of vaccine shortage L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times:
"If H1N1 flu vaccine shortages persist, California may not be able to vaccinate those most at risk by the end of December, public health officials said today.
Health officials have said that at least 25 city and county health agencies have received less than 45% of the vaccine doses they ordered. The state's goal had been to have all 'high-risk' patients vaccinated by Dec. 31 -- but the shortage of vaccine is putting that goal in jeopardy.
“We may not be able to meet the target if the vaccine does not get here,' said Dr. Gil Chavez, epidemiologist for the California Department of Public Health.
Chavez said state officials are monitoring the problem and plan to deliver more vaccine within two weeks to the agencies with significant shortfalls. “As we move forward, we are actually able to tell who has received vaccine, who has not, and try to bring people to parity,” he said.
“We believe, by and large, that the vaccine is being given to those who should receive it,” he added.
Vaccinations for the so-called swine flue are supposed to be directed to five priority groups: pregnant women, people ages 2-24, healthcare workers, caregivers of babies under 6 months old, and people ages 25-64 with chronic health conditions that put them at increased risk of complications from the flu."
"If H1N1 flu vaccine shortages persist, California may not be able to vaccinate those most at risk by the end of December, public health officials said today.
Health officials have said that at least 25 city and county health agencies have received less than 45% of the vaccine doses they ordered. The state's goal had been to have all 'high-risk' patients vaccinated by Dec. 31 -- but the shortage of vaccine is putting that goal in jeopardy.
“We may not be able to meet the target if the vaccine does not get here,' said Dr. Gil Chavez, epidemiologist for the California Department of Public Health.
Chavez said state officials are monitoring the problem and plan to deliver more vaccine within two weeks to the agencies with significant shortfalls. “As we move forward, we are actually able to tell who has received vaccine, who has not, and try to bring people to parity,” he said.
“We believe, by and large, that the vaccine is being given to those who should receive it,” he added.
Vaccinations for the so-called swine flue are supposed to be directed to five priority groups: pregnant women, people ages 2-24, healthcare workers, caregivers of babies under 6 months old, and people ages 25-64 with chronic health conditions that put them at increased risk of complications from the flu."