Oklahoma health officials to offer flu shots

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State health officials will begin offering flu shots at county health departments statewide next Monday for people at high risk of flu complications.<br/><br/>Flu shots will be offered

Thursday, October 13th 2005, 1:53 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State health officials will begin offering flu shots at county health departments statewide next Monday for people at high risk of flu complications.

Flu shots will be offered to other residents beginning the following Monday.

Don Blose with the state Health Department says he's not worried about a shortage of flu vaccine this year. A shortage last year led to long lines for those wanting flu shots.

Blose says those considered high risk are people 65 and older, children 6- to 23-months, nursing home residents, anyone with chronic health problems, pregnant women, health care personnel and people who take care of children 6-months or younger.

Health officials say nearly 36,000 Americans die from flu each year, including 400 to 500 Oklahomans.