State health officials expect flu vaccine shortage (UALR Public Radio) - State health officials say they expect a shortage of the seasonal influenza vaccine.

The number of doses of seasonal-flu vaccine a state can order is limited by how much is actually available from manufacturers. Arkansas has been allowed to order 378,120 doses of seasonal-flu vaccine so far while health officials estimate
720,170 doses are needed.

The branch chief for infectious disease at the Arkansas Department of Health says officials thought there would be plenty of vaccine based on their projections. But Dr. James Phillips says there will not be as many doses for what the demand is now expected to be.

Health officials say demand for flu vaccines is expected to rise this year because of increased attention to influenza in general and the rise of swine flu.

The state is to begin opening a total of 93 mass vaccination clinics around the state starting Thursday.


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