Oct. 13, 2009

General questions: Christine Decker Stone, 971-673-1282, 503-602-8027;
Christine.l.stone@state.or.us

Reports around Oregon show that demand for seasonal flu vaccine is higher than
ever and some clinics and pharmacies have gone through their early supplies. Public
health officials say that more vaccine is on the way by the end of November, in
plenty of time for the winter flu season.

"Normally people don’t think about getting their seasonal flu shots until later in the
year but because of high demand, some locations are reporting reduced supplies
while others still have plenty of vaccine," says Paul Cieslak, M.D., immunization
program medical director with the Oregon Public Health Division.

This season, manufacturers expected to make available the highest number of flu
vaccine doses ever – with between 114-115 million doses eventually available.

Of the more than 1.4 million doses of the seasonal vaccine to be distributed across
Oregon, nearly 314,000 have already been shipped. Seasonal influenza vaccine will
continue to arrive through November, prior to the flu season, and delivery should be
completed by the end of next month. At this point, the seasonal flu hasn’t yet hit
Oregon and almost all reported cases of influenza have been H1N1.

"The heightened awareness of H1N1 flu has increased demand for seasonal vaccine
and that's a good thing because it means more people will seek the protection of
the vaccine,” says Cieslak. "We ask that Oregonians be patient as supplies increase
and don’t lose their interest in getting the vaccine. Manufacturers are shipping the
seasonal vaccine as quickly as possible and it will be here in plenty of time to protect
people against the seasonal flu, which generally hits in December or January."

Vaccine for the new H1N1 strain is also moving into Oregon and some limited H1N1
vaccination clinics are expected to open next week. Until the clinics launch, public
health officials ask that Oregonians continue to protect themselves by covering their
cough, washing or sanitizing their hands and staying home when they are sick.

“Oregonians seem to have gotten the word about the importance of these
common sense measures to protect themselves and their famiies,” says Dr. Cieslak.
For the most recent information about where to get both seasonal and H1N1
vaccine, go to www.flu.oregon.gov.

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