State slashes flu shot supply for poor

Because of state budget cuts, the Ohio Department of Health has announced plans to buy 45,000 flu shots for Ohioans without insurance or the ability to pay for the vaccination, down from the 190,000 vaccines that the state purchased last year (Source: “State cutback to reduce supply of free flu shots,” Lancaster Eagle Gazette, Aug. 11, 2009).

According to ODH officials, requests for flu vaccines from county health departments already have exceeded 45,000.

"We wish we could do more, but this is a challenging budget time," said Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss. "Because we are buying these with public dollars, we will make sure our limited supply goes to those at highest risk and those who are just not able to pay."

Those considered "high risk" include people with chronic illness or compromised immune systems, children 6 months to 5 years old, anyone older than 50, people with diabetes or asthma, those living in nursing homes and anyone who comes in frequent contact with any of those groups.