HHS urges people to relax regarding flu vaccine

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has indicated that there will be enough flu vaccine available for most people who need it, and he told seniors to stop standing in long lines to get a shot. British regulators shut down shipments from Chiron Corp., which had made millions of flu shots in an English factory for the U.S. market. The shutdown of Chiron cut the U.S. supply almost in half. Thompson said flu vaccine would be reallocated to parts of the country where it is needed most. Seniors and young children are at greatest risk to have severe complications from the flu. He advised people to first seek the shot from their doctor or a clinic. If that fails, they should contact the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, he said. Thompson has also announced that there are 60 million doses available. That includes 2.6 million extra doses being made available by pharmaceutical manufacturer Aventis Pasteur for January distribution, Thompson advised physicians and hospitals to administer the vaccine only to patients in a "priority category," including children, the elderly and pregnant women. For more information go to the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov