Flu shots are readily available in the territory, according to acting Health Commissioner Dr. Lucien A. Moolenaar.
A release from Government House on Thursday night said that "unlike mainland communities, the Virgin Islands Department of Health has experienced no delays in obtaining the flu vaccine."
There have been delays in distribution of the flu vaccine on the mainland because of problems in manufacturing, though it was reported Thursday in the New York Times that "about two-thirds of this year's 75 million doses of influenza vaccine have been distributed in the United States."
The Times also said only two states were reporting outbreaks of the flu – Kentucky and Texas – with only sporadic outbreaks elsewhere.
The release did not indicate if any cases had been reported in the V.I.
Moolenar said the Health Department had been providing flu shots since late October and would continue to make them available to anyone who wanted them until May 2001.
The shots are being administered for free at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas, the Myrrah Keating Clinic on St. John and the Charles Harwood Complex on St. Croix. They are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to Government House spokesperson, James O'Bryan.
According to the Centers for Disease Control's website, those at highest risk for complications from the flu are:
– People aged 65 years and older.
– Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities with residents of any age who have chronic medical conditions.
– Adults and children aged 6 months and older who have chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, including asthma.
– Adults and children aged 6 months and older who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the past year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), kidney dysfunction, blood disorders (hemoglobinopathies) or immune system problems (immunocompromised e.g. HIV infection, immunosuppressed by medication, chemotherapy or radiation therapy).
– Children and teen-agers (aged 6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye Syndrome after influenza infection.
– Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season.
Moolenaar urged high-risk people to get their flu shots, adding the department had already been active in providing free shots to the elderly in long-term care and residential homes and to people who cannot afford to pay for them. Hemodialysis patients and clients with other serious illnesses were given the flu shots too, he said.
Shots are also available at the HIV and STD Clinic, East End Health Center and Frederiksted, Health Center and the Myrrah Keating Smith Health Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
