Americans head north for flu shots

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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Flu%20Shots


Tuesday, October 19, 2004 · Last updated 1:56 p.m. PT

"Americans head north for flu shots

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EVERETT, Wash. -- Some Americans are heading to Canadian drug stores and clinics to get their flu shots, rather than go without due to a U.S. shortage this year.

The Canadian shots aren't approved by the Federal Drug Administration, but the FDA is planning to review Canadian records to see if a vaccine surplus there can shipped to the United States.

In King County, the public health department hasn't been able to offer vaccinations for high-risk adults because it never received the 21,000 doses it ordered from Chiron Corp., where tainted batches at a British manufacturing plant cut the U.S. vaccine supply in half, causing the shortage."


Over the weekend I took the ferry to Victoria BC -- and it was my impression that some people on the ferry were going up to BC Canada for flu shots. Canada is an easy commute for people living in this area.

I believe that this is a mega huge issue -- some people avoid getting flu shots because typically they have a bigger reaction to the shot than to the actual flu. However, the more people who do get the shot -- then if the CDC formulated the flu combination correctly -- there will be fewer flu carriers.

[Lisa]

1. Coho or Clipper?

I wonder if Tourism Victoria will start putting up promotional signage about this? Maybe they can organize package tours (take the boat over, double-decker bus ride to the clinic, then a short nap at the Empress followed by high tea)!

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2. m/v Coho

Victoria, B.C.

The boat was packed with walk-ons.