Delays in shipping flu vaccines have canceled one flu clinic and limited supply at a second, according to the Chatham Health District.
Health officials who oversee Portland are assuring their seniors that there is no shortage of the flu vaccine, but rather a delay in shipment that will be resolved quickly.
The Chatham Health District, which serves Colchester, East Haddam, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough and Portland, said they prepared for this flu season early, given how active last year was.
“We are ready to go this year and we had our requests in, and not all the vaccine came in at one time and that sometimes happens,” explained Donald Mitchell, the Director of Health for the Chatham Health District.
The district held its fourth clinic of October on Wednesday morning at the Portland Senior Center where they had a limited supply of the high dose, 65+ vaccine due to a shipment delay. Health officials said they saw about 25 people in the first hour.
“I come every year religiously to get my flu shot, and I find it very convenient coming right over here to the senior center,” said Portland resident Sara Paley.
“I hear flu season was starting earlier, so I said let’s get in, let’s get with it Henry and get your shot,” said Henry Prescott, who also lives in town.
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While a flu clinic scheduled in Colchester for Wednesday was canceled, health officials said they don’t expect the delay to last too long.
“The clinics are going to keep going and we’re going to keep in stock,” said Mitchell. “Hopefully, we’ll get everything that we’ve ordered in and we can reschedule those other clinics very quickly.”
Health officials are reminding people that they can also get their shot at a local pharmacy or at their physician’s office.
