09/19/02

Roger Mezger
Plain Dealer Reporter
 

The state health department will have 280,000 doses of flu vaccine to parcel out to city and county health departments this fall.

That's the same number as last year, though the $1.58 million cost was $222,000 higher than a year ago because of a price increase, said state flu vaccine program manager Tony Payton.

The state requires local health departments to use those doses exclusively for vaccinating people who the CDC says are at greatest risk of flu-related complication, including seniors and the chronically ill.

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Cleveland is expecting 6,000 doses from the state, said Dr. Wendy Johnson, an acting health commissioner.

The city will offer free flu and pneumonia shots to high-risk people beginning Oct. 23. However, the shots are intended for those who do not have access to them through a family doctor, an employer or other means.

Places and times will be posted on the City Health Department's Web site, healthycleveland.com, in late September. Residents without Internet access should call 216-664-2324.

Cuyahoga County will have 17,000 doses available, including some that it bought on the open market, said Tim Eppich, manager of the county's flu vaccine program. By buying vaccine on its own, the county is free to offer shots to people besides those on the CDC's high-risk list.

The county's flu shot clinics for high-risk groups will run from Oct. 17 to Nov. 21 at senior centers. The county's schedule will be available on its Web site, www.ccbh.net, or by calling 216-443-5660.

After Nov. 21, the county will run clinics at schools, companies and other locations where people who are not high-risk also can be vaccinated.

The county's shots are free to those who have Medicare Part B coverage. Others will pay $12.

Again this year, private companies will offer flu shots at Cleveland-area drug, grocery and discount stores.

Maxim Healthcare Services has planned one of the region's largest for-profit vaccination efforts, scheduling about 350 clinics from mid-October to late November at Marc's, Tops, Medic, Discount Drug Mart, Acme, Ritzman and Kmart stores in 12 Northeast Ohio counties.

There is no charge for those with Medicare Part B. For others, the price is $20 for a flu shot and $25 for a pneumonia shot. A list of Maxim's clinics is available at www.findaflushot.com.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

rmezger@plaind.com, 216-999-4446