| • Children 6 months to 23 months old. |
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Some vaccine limits lifted http://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gif Greater supply and slacking demand mean Sedgwick County can offer flu shots to people who were excluded. http://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gif http://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gif Following the lead of several other states, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Monday that flu shots could be given to a much bigger group of people. Decreased demand and increased supplies of vaccine mean health care providers can begin giving flu shots to anyone 50 or older and to anyone in a household with someone in a high-priority group, KDHE said. The Sedgwick County Health Department, which still has about 2,000 doses of vaccine, is adopting those guidelines as well. It has shots available at its main office, 1900 E. Ninth St., and at the Evergreen and Orchard Park health stations. No laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza have been reported this season in Kansas. Typically, the flu season here peaks in January or February. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to protect a person against the flu, which means there still is time to get a shot to avoid the flu this season. Health departments and health care providers nationwide had strictly limited who could get a flu shot after one of the two vaccine manufacturers was shut down in early October. Long lines formed, and providers ran out of vaccine as people tried to get shots. In the past two weeks, several states have resumed giving shots to people younger than 65, and with demand dwindling, some health departments fear they'll have vaccine left over. It can't be saved for next year WHO CAN GET A FLU SHOT People who are in any of these groups can get a flu shot. At the Sedgwick County Health Department, shots are $17. For information, 660-7300. • People 50 or older. • Children 6 months to 23 months old. • People 2 and older who have underlying chronic medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. • Pregnant women. • Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. • Health care workers involved in direct patient care. • People who care for babies less than 6 months old. • Household contacts of any of these people. |