DHS Receives Full Order of Flu Vaccines
The California Department of Health Services has received about 200,000 doses of the flu vaccine in the past two weeks, filling the state's 730,000-dose order, according to DHS Director Diana Bonta (Department of Health Services release, 11/29). The health department's order will be distributed to county health agencies that serve the elderly, poor and sick. However, the DHS order does not include doses for private physicians, pharmacies and hospitals, which provide the remaining 90% of flu vaccines statewide. This week, Los Angeles County received the remaining 20,000 doses of its 114,090 shot order, and Orange County received its final 5,150 doses, the Los Angeles Times reports. John Schunhoff, COO of public health in Los Angeles County, indicated that the county is now positioned to fully distribute the vaccine. Schunhoff said, "We should be able to complete all of the outreach clinics we had scheduled." Mary Wright, immunization coordinator for the Orange County Health Agency, added, "Our clinics are open. We're just going to use it up until its all gone." Vaccine deliveries were delayed across the nation this year due to manufacturing problems. Norma Arceo, a state health department spokesperson, said, "We're happy it didn't come to a crisis. ... We were on pins and needles trying to get it all in, and making sure the counties got it in on time" (Hanley, Los Angeles Times, 11/30).
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