California Will Distribute 271,740 Additional Flu Shots

SACRAMENTO -- California has received a shipment of 271,740 additional doses of flu vaccine and will distribute the vaccine to local health departments next week, State Public Health Officer Dr. Richard Joseph Jackson announced today.

"Because of the nationwide shortage of flu vaccine this season, these flu shots are intended for individuals who are at high risk for serious complications from the flu," Jackson said. "Those who are not in the high-risk groups should not get a flu shot."

The additional flu vaccine was purchased from Aventis-Pasteur, one of two flu vaccine manufacturers in the nation. The other manufacturer, Chiron Corp., was unable to fill orders for flu vaccine this year because of manufacturing problems. To date, the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) has provided 234,560 doses of flu vaccine to local health departments for low-income children and those enrolled in Medi-Cal or the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program.

Flu vaccine provided by CDHS, however, is not the only source of vaccine, Jackson said. Private health care providers, hospitals, long-term care facilities and some large employers have also purchased flu vaccine. Individuals seeking flu shots should contact their health care provider, clinic or local health department.

In addition, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that an additional 2.6 million doses of flu vaccine will be distributed nationwide in January.

Source: California Department of Health