Cape County still waiting for flu vaccine to arrive

Cape Girardeau County public health nurses are waiting for the more than 6,000 doses of flu vaccine they've ordered, while other county health departments in the area and Cape Girardeau's two hospitals already have conducted shot clinics.

The supply of vaccine should arrive by early November, said Vicky McDowell, a registered nurse and the health center's communicable-disease coordinator. That's about the same time as last year, when vaccines were delayed because one of the components didn't develop correctly at first.

The health center initially will give shots to the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses, the population groups that would be hurt most by the flu. Once the most at-risk residents have been vaccinated, the health center will open the vaccinations to the general public, McDowell said.

Clinic times will be publicized. The cost will be $10.

Some county health centers in Missouri, including Scott County, already have given flu shots. McDowell said it depends on the supplier.

"We were told early in the year that we would not have our vaccine until November," McDowell said. But she said the health center's supplier didn't give a specific reason.

The flu vaccine is newly manufactured each year so as to best combat the latest flu virus. "It is a long process to make the flu vaccine," she said.

The flu season typically doesn't begin in Southeast Missouri until late December or early January.

Eager for shots

Still, many area residents are eager to get their flu shots. "They started calling us in August," said Kay Griffin, nursing supervisor for the Scott County agency.

Lewis Dunne of Cape Girardeau gets a flu shot every year. Dunne said the sooner, the better. "It seems to help," he said of the vaccine.

Last year a shortage of flu vaccine delayed shot clinics in Cape Girardeau until November. The Centers for Disease Control said the shortage was caused by the fact that one of the three flu virus strains used to make the 2000 vaccine didn't grow as well as a corresponding strain used in 1999.

There doesn't appear to be a shortage this year, health officials said.

Southeast Missouri Hospital recently gave flu shots to employees and volunteers. St. Francis Medical Center began vaccinating its workers and volunteers on Wednesday. But neither hospital gives as many flu shots as the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

"We are trying to accommodate the entire county," McDowell said.

Scott County shots

The Scott County Health Department already has given about 2,500 flu shots since early October. The department asks for a donation but doesn't specify an amount as Cape Girardeau County's health center does.

"We ordered from three different suppliers," Griffin said. "I didn't put all my eggs in one basket."

She said her office received two of the three shipments ordered. "We've got about 500 more doses coming," she said. The last shipment may not arrive until December, Griffin said.

The Scott County Health Department so far has primarily vaccinated the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.

Both McDowell and Griffin said it's not too late for people to get flu shots.

Said McDowell, "We have not had any confirmed cases of flu in our county."

mbliss@semissourian.com

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