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Flu vaccination clinics canceled

Oct. 7, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Due to a nationwide shortage of the flu vaccine, the Sindecuse Health Center at Western Michigan University is canceling its remaining campuswide flu and meningitis clinics. Sindecuse will continue to administer meningitis vaccines at the health center on a walk-in basis at a cost of $82.

The Kalamazoo County Human Services Department has requested voluntary rationing of the flu vaccine after one of two companies that supply the United States with vaccine had its license suspended to manufacture Fluvirin vaccine. Concerns about the company's manufacturing standards triggered the three-month suspension, which will reduce the expected U.S. supply of vaccine by approximately one-half for the 2004-05 influenza season.

The county human services department's Adult Immunization Advisory Task Force roughly estimates that about 10,000 doses are available in the local community but 35,000 doses will be needed.

The task force is currently researching the number of vaccine doses that are available and will formulate a way to redistribute these doses. Upon completion of this assessment, Sindecuse Health Center will resume administering flu vaccine based on Centers for Disease Control priority criteria.

More information regarding the flu vaccine shortage is available online at the following Web at Sindecuse, <www.sindecuse.com>; Kalamazoo County Human Services Department, <www.kalcounty.com/hsd>; and CDC, <www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r041005.htm>.

Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

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