Please bring your student ID for verification. This is the time of year that brings to mind falling leaves, crisp mornings, afternoons of football and yes, flu shots. This year, there may be a shortage of vaccines. The vaccine manufacturers have told the FDA and the CDC to expect delays in shipments and there most likely will not be as many vaccines available.
Influenza vaccine contains three different inactivated influenza virus strains.
Many agencies are involved in the process of selecting the strains to be used. There are typically 2 type A virus strains and 1 type B virus strain. If there turns out to be a substantial shortage of vaccine, the CDC and the APIC will issue modified recommendations for the 2000-2001 influenza season. It takes one to two weeks after receiving the shot for a person to develop protective antibody. Among the elderly or people with chronic diseases, the vaccine may be less effective in preventing the disease than in preventing serious complications and death.