Wrong Vaccine Leads To Cancellation Of Several Flu Clinics

http://www.wftv.com ^ | October 19, 2004 | http://www.wftv.com

[sheikdetailfeather]

Wrong Vaccine Leads To Cancellation Of Several Flu Clinics

POSTED: 5:12 pm EDT October 19, 2004 ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The rush for flu shots in Central Florida became worse on Tuesday afternoon. Several scheduled clinics are now cancelled.

The "Get Healthy Florida" program realized they have thousands of doses of the wrong vaccine, one that is not FDA approved. The shots were supposed to be given to people considered high-risk.

Last year the same events drew thousands of people and long lines. Of course, you didn't have to be high risk last year. But the revelation that they had the wrong vaccines came after almost all the prep work for the events were done.

Health Department officials hope to solve the vaccine mistake by exchanging what they have, called the Shire vaccine, with the right one, called the Aventis vaccine. But, they pointed out Tuesday, this is no reason to panic about flu vaccines.

"Well, number one, there are 24 million vaccines yet to be shipped from the Aventis Company. That's the major manufacturer. So we still have 24 million in place. Number two, there's a back up, which is antiviral flu medication," explains Dr. Kevin Sherin, Orange County Health Department.

The Centers for Disease Control has been notified of this mix-up, as has the Federal Drug Administraion.

The Get Healthy Florida program hopes to get the vaccines in time to reschedule the events later this fall.

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[sheikdetailfeather]

Comedy of Errors!

[television is just wrong]

Don't want that flu vaccine anyway. I don't believe in them. The only thing it does is spread the flu around. Everyone that gets them gets the flu and gives it to someone else around them. So on and so on and so on.

[skip_intro]

Is there something weird about the water or air in Florida?

What a screwed up state.

[coconutt2000]

So long as I don't kiss anyone during the flu season, I'm safe right? ;-D

[television is just wrong]

Depends.

[Luircin]

All together now...

"It's all Bush's fault!"

[Atlantic Friend]

I heard yesterday evening on TV that France was going to send 22 million doses of the Aventis type. If I heard correctly, these will be in addition to the 24 million doses already in possession of the Health Department.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Not correct. I can't remember the last time I had the flu or a cold either, but I take multi vitamins and drink orange juice every day. Maybe this year, I can get a flu shot and maybe not. Ironically, in normal years most senior citizens and the young kids wouldn't even bother to get a shot, but this year they are all in a panic.

The flu or colds wouldn't be spread around that much if the dumb dumbs that get sick would STAY AT HOME and not spread it around.

You can't get the flu from the shot. You might have a sore arm for a day or two, but the flu virus is dead and it only builds up your immunity to the flu and it will not give it to you.