Flu vaccination clinics for UCSB employees, often scheduled for around this time of year, have been canceled due to the loss of about half of the United States’ supply of vaccine, reports Dr. Cindy Bowers, Student Health Service director. There is, however, a small quantity of flu vaccine for what she describes as “high-risk” students and employees.

High-risk people have been defined by public health authorities as children under the age of 2 and the elderly 65 and above; persons between the ages of 2 and 64 with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, lupus, heart and lung disease; women who become pregnant during an influenza outbreak; and youths 18 years old and under who are on chronic aspirin therapy.

Employees and students fitting the above categories should seek assessment by contacting the SHS nurse adviser at x7129. “She will ask for medical information,” said Bowers. “And if she tells you to come in, please be prepared to wait.” Student Health will not take appointments for the vaccinations.

Most staff and faculty employees who do not fall into the high-risk definitions should not expect to be vaccinated this year, advised Bowers. The federal Center for Disease Control is asking healthy individuals to forego flu vaccinations due to the shortage. If more personalized information is needed, contact your physician or the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department at 681-5462 in the South County or 346-8420 in the North County.

At present, Bowers noted, California has had no influenza cases reported. For updated information, check the Web at <www.sa.ucsb.edu/studenthealth>.