Tripler does not expect flu vaccine shortage

Tripler Army Medical Center does not anticipate a flu vaccine shortage for about 140,000 Hawaii residents eligible for military health care.

Vaccine is available at six Tripler and Schofield Barracks clinics for eligible beneficiaries, said Tripler spokesperson Margaret Tippy.

High demand for flu shots caused the Hawaii Medical Service Association to run out of the vaccine for a series of free clinics this month. State health officials also say they don't expect a shortage, despite the high demand for shots.

All military services also have influenza vaccine and members enrolled in base clinics should go there if they're vaccinating, Tippy said.

Updated information is presented for each clinic on Tripler's Flu Hotline, 433-3357.

First priority for vaccinations is going to "war fighters," those deployed to the Middle East, said Col. Michael R. Brumage, chief of Tripler's Preventive Medicine Department.

State Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said the high demand since the start of October for flu shots was likely spurred by residents fearing a repeat of last year's nationwide flu vaccine shortage.

Manufacturing delays have also contributed to the shortfall.

The Tripler Immunization Clinic's regular hours are 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

It has scheduled two special vaccination dates for medically high-risk patients and people 50 or older who walk in from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 16 and 18. The clinic is located on Tripler's fourth floor.

The Immunization Clinic will have extra doctors and staff on those dates because high-risk patients must have a physician screening before immunization. For more information, call 433-6334.

Other clinic schedules:

Tripler Pediatric Clinic: Vaccinations 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 8 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3:45 p.m. Wednesdays. Two special flu shot days will be held for enrolled patients from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 11 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 25. For more information, call 433-6234.

Tripler Family Medicine Clinic: Vaccinations will be given from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The Family Medicine Clinic is on the first floor D wing. The immunization area is on the Ewa side of the clinic. For more information, call 433-9738 or 433-3649.

Tripler Adult Medicine Clinic: Walk-in patients enrolled in the clinic can get vaccinations from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For appointments, call 433-6641.

Schofield Barracks Immunization Clinic: Patients enrolled at Schofield will be vaccinated from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Mondays; 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Fridays except the last Friday of every month when hours are 1 to 2:30 p.m. only. For more information, call 433-8145.

Schofield Barracks Family Medicine Clinic: Patients will be vaccinated Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Call 433-8102 for more information.