Rhode Island Getting Flu Vaccine
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The shipbuilder Electric Boat donated 800 doses of flu vaccine to the state on Tuesday, a move that health officials say will help inoculate the most needy in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island and many other states face a major shortage of flu vaccine because a company that was to make half the nation's supply was shut down by British authorities.
The vaccine that was shipped to Rhode Island has been used up and it will be weeks before the state can obtain more, said Robert Marshall Jr., assistant director of health. About 2,500 doses donated by CVS Corporation are being held in reserve for an outbreak or an emergency.
Last week, hundreds of people waited for hours only to be turned away from supermarket clinics that ran out of supplies in Cranston and Narragansett. Hundreds more phoned senior centers, doctors' offices and state offices seeking vaccine.
Electric Boat's medical director said the donation was the appropriate thing to do, considering the shortage of vaccines. State health officials say the donation will provide inoculations to the most needy for the coming weeks.
Electric Boat employs about 15,000 people at a facility in North Kingstown and its shipyard in Groton, Conn. The flu season generally lasts from late November through March. Those considered most at-risk include children ages 6 months to 23 months, adults 65 or older, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions.
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