Shipments of flu vaccines have been late arriving at clinics around Minnesota, complicating efforts of public health officials to encourage people to get the vaccines.

Friday, October 15, 1999

Shipments of flu vaccines have been late arriving at clinics around Minnesota, complicating efforts of public health officials to encourage people to get the vaccines. The Austin area, however, is in good shape, according to Austin Medical Center Director of Nursing Carol Weis.

"We have our vaccines in, and clinics planned," Weis said. "We recommend that people who want to get a flu shot do it this month or in November, before the peak flu months of December to March."

Flu shot clinics are scheduled at OakPark Mall Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of a shot is $12. Clinics will be held from 9-11 a.m. at AMC centers in Adams Oct. 27 and LeRoy Oct. 29.

Nationally, flu shots are likely to be delayed by a few weeks because Wyeth-Lederle, one of four U.S. manufacturers, had difficulty growing two of the three strains of flu virus that go into this season’s shot. That means some clinics won’t get the vaccine until next month.

St. Louis County in northeastern Minnesota canceled eight of its flu vaccination clinics this month because of the delay. In Bloomington, a clinic was forced to close Monday, said Tracy Anderson of the American Lung Association of Minnesota, which promotes flu vaccinations.

As a way to boost awareness and access to the flu vaccination, the lung association is hosting several drive-in clinics around the Twin Cities.

Influenza symptoms are similar to those for the common cold, but are more severe. They include fever, sore throat, runny nose, headaches, muscle aches and fatigue.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza kills an average of 20,000 Americans – most over the age of 65 – each year.