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The Central District Health Department, based in Boise, has hundreds of doses of flu vaccine left over now that public interest in the vaccine has dried up for the season.
To put the extra doses to good use, the health department will offer free flu shots to residents of the Latah Village Apartments, at 3905 W Alpine St., Boise, on Friday, Jan. 16. A public health nurse will administer vaccine in the apartments' laundry room from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The health department would like to offer flu vaccine clinics in areas easily accessible to low-income and high risk individuals. If you have an idea for a location, call Cathy Deckys at 327-8512.
“We would rather see the flu vaccine go to use than throw it away.” Immunizations Program Manager Teresa Collins said. “With flu season expected to peak in February, these folks will still get good protection against the flu.”
The flu vaccine is reformulated each year to protect against strains of flu expected to be circulating in North America. If the vaccine goes unused, it must be destroyed after June 30. Currently, the health department has about 1,000 unused doses of flu vaccine.
Outreach to vulnerable populations will continue until all the vaccine is gone.
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