Clinics for chronically ill
get started in Hawaii

Officials expect to give
10,000 shots by mid-December

The state Department of Health held the first of many flu vaccine clinics yesterday for people who are chronically ill.

Health officials expect to deliver about 10,000 flu shots to chronically ill patients around the state between now and mid-December.

"These clinics are the result of a collaborative effort between the private-sector medical community and the state health officials," said Dr. Chiyome Fukino, the Health Department's director. "Our common goal is to ensure that our residents who are most vulnerable to the flu are vaccinated."

Appointments are still available, and people with chronic illnesses should contact their doctors, health officials said. There is no cost to patients.

Locations of the clinics are not being publicized because patients must make appointments through their doctors, officials said.