Dealing with the flu shot shortage

Many of us who just got used to getting annual flu shots are now finding ourselves unable to do so. Thanks to contamination of half of the flu vaccine available, in a production laboratory in England, only priority groups are receiving the shots.

Sure enough, some people are trying cash in on the shortage, including someone in Aurora, Colo., who stole cases of the vaccine from a clinic, and a pharmacy in Kansas charging $900 a vial.

But health departments are directing that only eight priority groups receive the shots:

* Children age 6-23 months.

* Adults 65 and older.

* Persons 2-64 with underlying chronic medical conditions.

* All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.

* Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

* Healthcare workers with direct patient care responsibilities.

* Children 6 months-18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy.

* Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts with children under six months old.

For the rest of us, perhaps radio personality Paul Harvey's suggestion of a snappy salute instead of a handshake wouldn't be a bad idea.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta seem to agree, offering these activities to stop the spread of germs during the influenza season:

* Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and keep your distance from others if you are ill.

* Stay at home from work or school if you are ill, and away from the general public.

* Cover your sneezes and coughs, which are the primary means of spreading diseases like flu. Use a tissue or handkerchief to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

* Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after contact with someone exhibiting symptoms of Influenza.

* Avoid contact with your eyes, nose or mouth after contact with a possibly contaminated object.

With a little effort, as well as more than a little luck, perhaps we can make it through the winter without getting seriously ill.