10/27/2004

Good move, Yale:
Responding to a critical shortage of flu shots in New Haven, the University has transferred 5,000 doses of the influenza virus vaccine to the city for distribution to high-risk patients. Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and University Vice President for New Haven and State Affairs Bruce Alexander, along with health officials for local clinics and the city, announced the transfer in a press conference yesterday at Hill Health Center. They said the shots will be administered only to people at high risk for complications resulting from the flu, specifically those over the age of 65, children under two years old and people with chronic diseases. New Haven Health Department Director William Quinn said the University's action is crucial to combating the potentially fatal virus in the city. He said 36,000 people die each year in the United States from the flu. "This is going to save lives," Quinn said. "It's that simple." Quinn said the transfer increases the city's number of available shots from 1,200 to 6,200.

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