Contact: Beth Alexander, University Physician, (517) 353-8933, beth.alexander@ht.msu.edu; or Tom Oswald, University Relations, (517) 355-2281, oswald@msu.edu
10/22/2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. � With the serious shortage of flu vaccine continuing to plague our state, Michigan State University is helping out by providing as many as 800 doses to Ingham County to vaccinate high-risk patients.
The MSU University Physician�s office originally received more than 1,500 doses of the vaccine. The university is using it to vaccinate pediatric and oncology health care workers, as well as other high-risk patients and their families.
Among the priority groups who are considered at high risk for the flu are children aged 6 to 23 months, adults 65 years of age and older, persons with chronic illnesses, all women who will be pregnant during flu season and health-care workers with direct patient care.
�The decision to provide these flu vaccine doses to the community was an easy one to make,� said MSU University Physician Beth Alexander. �At times like this it�s important that we work together, especially when you consider the seriousness of the situation.�
MSU is selling the doses to the county at cost. The Ingham County Health Department had funds budgeted for the doses, as it had not received all that it had originally ordered.
MSU has been working closely with the county. Health-care workers from the University Physician�s office, as well as faculty and students from the MSU College of Nursing, have been pitching in at the county health department, helping to give flu shots during times of peak demand.
For additional flu information, visit the Web at http://uphys.msu.edu