Public Health immunization program manager Mariana Coats said the 7,500 doses are the biggest number they have received so far.
“In the previous years, we only received a maximum of 5,000 doses for the seasonal flu and that had been enough for the entire island,” Coats said.
The seasonal flu vaccine shots are federally funded through the Vaccinations for Children Program.
The total doses CNMI received came in three batches and were administered since last month both at the CHC and private clinics on island.
Coats said they will not be ordering more doses of the seasonal flu shots for the meantime.
In the previous years, the CNMI received donations of 3,000 doses for the seasonal flu vaccines from the Joint Task Force Homeland Defense in addition to the vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Coats is still encouraging those who haven’t received their seasonal flu or annual flu shot to get vaccinated.
She said the seasonal flu shot is different from the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, so those who have already gotten their seasonal flu shot should still get H1N1 vaccine shots.
“The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect you from the H1N1 flu virus,” she said.
For more information about flu and flu vaccine, visit ww.cdc.gov/fluor call 234-8950, 236-8703 or e-mail [email protected].
