LOS ANGELES—About 350,000 doses of the swine flu vaccine will be sent to California in the first round of shipments from the federal government. California Department of Public Health spokesman Ron Owens said the state is divvying up the first doses of the nasal spray vaccine among counties based on their populations. Providers can expect to receive those the week of Oct. 5.
Another 200,000 doses of the injectable vaccine are expected to arrive the week of Oct. 12.
For the entire flu season, California may order as many as 4.5 million doses of the nasal spray vaccine and 18 million doses of the injectable vaccine.
In the first shipments of the nasal spray to Southern California, Los Angeles County is expecting 95,000 and San Diego County is expecting 28,000 doses.
In both counties, school-age children are being targeted in the first round of distribution of the nasal vaccines.
In Los Angeles County, demand will outstrip supply with about 280,000 doses of the vaccine already on order.
That's not cause for concern, according to the director of the county's immunization program, Dr. Alvin Nelson El-Amin, because it's a result of some medical providers who haven't staggered their orders in tune with the ongoing production and release of the vaccines.
"A lot of clinicians or providers have ordered all of the vaccine that they think they'll use over two months at one time," said Nelson-El Amin.
"As the vaccine becomes available, only certain amounts of it become available at a time." Nelson-El Amin said he anticipates millions of doses will become available and distributed as drug companies roll out their wares.
Another 200,000 doses of the injectable vaccine are expected to arrive the week of Oct. 12.
For the entire flu season, California may order as many as 4.5 million doses of the nasal spray vaccine and 18 million doses of the injectable vaccine.
In the first shipments of the nasal spray to Southern California, Los Angeles County is expecting 95,000 and San Diego County is expecting 28,000 doses.
In both counties, school-age children are being targeted in the first round of distribution of the nasal vaccines.
In Los Angeles County, demand will outstrip supply with about 280,000 doses of the vaccine already on order.
That's not cause for concern, according to the director of the county's immunization program, Dr. Alvin Nelson El-Amin, because it's a result of some medical providers who haven't staggered their orders in tune with the ongoing production and release of the vaccines.
"A lot of clinicians or providers have ordered all of the vaccine that they think they'll use over two months at one time," said Nelson-El Amin.
"As the vaccine becomes available, only certain amounts of it become available at a time." Nelson-El Amin said he anticipates millions of doses will become available and distributed as drug companies roll out their wares.
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