Give U.S. flu vaccines to the weakest, says AMA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Thursday urged grocery and drug stores and other distributors of flu vaccine to lend their precious supplies to doctors, nurses and health-care centers so the neediest people could get their shots first.

Officials have warned repeatedly that shipments of flu vaccine are behind schedule this year, and they have asked that the healthiest people, who least need the vaccine, wait until December to get their shots.

They say seniors, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as those undergoing cancer treatment or HIV patients, should get their vaccines first. Healthy adults can safely wait until December, when the full supply will be available, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Surgeon General David Satcher.

"We urge all those with vaccine supplies for patients who are not high-risk to loan vaccine to nursing homes, physicians, and others who are actively serving high-risk patients," Dr. Randolph Smoak, president of the AMA, said in a statement.

"Flu vaccine will be available to the general public before the flu season peaks in January or later, but we need everyone's cooperation to get vaccine to the neediest patients first."

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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