Share this article:

TV: AISD cancels flu shot clinic after doses run out

Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

by By AMY JOHNSTON / KVUE News

Posted on October 12, 2009 at 8:46 AM

Updated Wednesday, Oct 21 at 3:09 PM

The Austin Independent School District is the latest area district to cancel a flu vaccination clinic because it has run out of vaccine. School districts order their allotment of seasonal flu vaccinations by early spring. Orders went in before the swine flu outbreak.

Video

KVUE's Amy Johnston reports

>
Search Video:
> > >

Most moms make kids' health a top priority.

"He's in school -- especially I worry about him getting sick, and he has a little sister who's only 4-months-old and bringing germs home," said Susan Perkins, mother.

"My niece had the flu in Houston and my brother was in town for the football game yesterday so we kind of had to quarantine him in the house," said Diana Greenberg.

Her son Parker is still too young to get his flu shot. Now, some school age students who would like to get it might be out of luck.

AISD Monday scrambled to find more vaccine after running out over the weekend.

"We're calling our manufactures to see if they're making any. We know a lot of manufacturers have shifted from manufacturing the seasonal flu to the Novel H1N1 vaccine," said AISD Health Coordinator Tracy Diggs Lunoff.

It's much harder to find that seasonal flu vaccine. Round Rock ISD and Hays Consolidated ISD have both cancelled flu clinics this week because they have run out of vaccine.

The University of Texas ordered 11,000 vaccinations. That's about on par with the order from 2008. Turnout for flu clinics on campus has been higher than in years past. They will continue according to schedule. Health officials say they expect to use every one of those vaccine doses, but there's no guarantee they won't run out.

It seems with the heightened awareness of swine flu, more people lined up to get their seasonal flu vaccine. Seasonal flu season usually picks up in November or December.

"I'm worried about it. But maybe I'm just not that parent who freaks out," said Perkins.

She and Greenberg still have the option of private health care providers, which is on the top of their to-do lists.

In the meantime, AISD has not cancelled Thursday's clinic. It hopes to find some vaccine before then.

Share this article:

To add a comment, please register or login.

Leave your comment

Remember Please be respectful of others when posting comments. Play nice. IP addresses are logged and can be banned.

HTML is not allowed.

The username shown above is displayed with all comments you post. If you wish to update your username please click in the box to edit your username.

1000 characters remaining

Enter both words below, separated by a space, in the field located to the lower right. Can't read the words below? Try different words or an audio captcha. What's this?

Submit