| Updated: 1/08 10:49 pm |
Published: 1/08 10:35 pm
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At 3 p.m. on Tuesday the medical director at the Visiting Nurses Association in Tulsa had to turn people away for the day; the supply of influenza vaccinations was gone from the shelves.
“We ran out of vaccine,” said registered nurse, Merlyn Sweet, “It’s the second time that I have had to reorder vaccine.”
Sweet says that the demand for vaccinations has increased with the recent surge in local flu hospitalizations and two flu deaths in Tulsa County.
“At the beginning of the season I ordered 13,000 shots and we gave that out so then I ordered a couple hundred more and we are out of that,” said Sweet.
Sweet says that the VNA will be restocked with 200 influenza vaccinations by 11 a.m. on Wednesday. They are out of the influenza mist vaccination and don’t anticipate that they will receive another shipment.
Raemy Deweese took her daughter to the Visiting Nurses Association for a flu shot because her family physician had run out of the immunization.
“I guess they ran out before we got here but we will be back,” said Deweese, “A lot of people we know have come down with the flu.”
Walgreen's and Drug Ware House in Tulsa told FOX23 that they have plenty of flu shots still available. CVS reports that they will have more flu shots available on Thursday.
Economy Pharmacy in Tulsa is no longer keeping flu shots or mist in stock this season but has noticed a prescription item is flying off of shelves.
“The most popular thing right now is Tamiflu for kids,” said Pharmacist Chris Schiller. Schiller says that Tamiflu can help to prevent the flu if you have been exposed to the virus.
Epidemiologist at St. Francis in Tulsa, Dr. Mark Rowland says that it is not too late to get a flu shot.
“This year the flu shot was a good match,” said Dr. Rowland, “The influenza virus that is circulating matches the virus that we devised the flu vaccine for.”
