Flu cases spike higher

Posted: Published on January 13th, 2013

This post was added by Dr P. Richardson

A deluge of people seeking the influenza vaccine has strained the resources of Capital Region pharmacies and doctors' offices as a growing national flu outbreak reached epidemic levels.

The outbreak has also prompted local hospitals to restrict visitors, an emergency protocol aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.

Mirroring a wave of illness throughout 47 states, data show flu has been widespread throughout New York for seven weeks. The number of patients admitted to hospitals in the state with confirmed cases of influenza spiked 55 percent last week, and one child died, according to the state Department of Health.

The high number of flu cases, coupled with an early start to the flu season, sent more people than usual to pharmacies and doctors' offices to be vaccinated. Some locations ran low, while others stockpiled doses in anticipation of supplies drying up in the near future. The federal Centers for Disease Control said on its website that the vaccine may be difficult to find.

Price Chopper, which offers vaccines at in-store pharmacies, has nearly tripled the number of vaccines it doles out daily. The company placed an order for 600 doses of the vaccine for its 45 New York state pharmacies on Friday. Alisha Roberts, who oversees Price Chopper's clinical pharmacy programs, said it is stocking up with the expectation that wholesale supplies will soon run out.

Typically, the company orders the vaccine only once, in August. This season, it has already placed three orders.

"We've had a high demand in every store in New York," Roberts said. "We're seeing it everywhere."

Each year's vaccine is designed to combat a different strain of the virus. This year's was successful in targeting the most prevalent strain.

An injection will help about 70 percent of people who get it avoid the illness altogether, and the remaining 30 percent will likely have milder cases.

At the Price Chopper supermarket in Mohawk Commons, Carly Lansly, an employee, took advantage of the vaccine offered free of charge to staff members.

Continued here:
Flu cases spike higher

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