AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - The tears a little girl shed at the Mahoning County District Board of Health as she got a flu shot may not have fallen had she been able to choose flu mist. However, because of the slight vaccine shortage a poke in the arm was her only option.
"We called the pediatrician and they were out and the pharmacies only do children 14 and older so we were kind of limited on trying to find somewhere to get it for them," said Nicole Medved of Champion.
The Mahoning County District Board of Health has been swamped with families like the Medved's of Champion since the holidays.
"The interest particularly since Thanksgiving on is higher than it's been in the last couple of years. Yes, much more so," said Diana Colaianni, the Nursing Director at the Mahoning County District Board of Health.
Because of the response, the board of health now has to be selective in how it's administering the vaccine to reserve the specialized doses.
"It is still protection against the flu, whatever version you get," said Colaianni. "We need to be sure that we can take care of our babies and our young children."
Like the Medved's, the Allman family of Newton Falls had trouble finding the vaccine. While they typically don't get the flu shot, mom Kelley thought it was necessary this year.
"I decided this year to vaccine because they say it's worse and there are so many people dying this year compared to the other years," said Kelley Allman of Newton Falls.
The Mahoning County District Board of Health is hosting a walk in flu shot clinic on Thursday January 17th from 9:00am until 3:00pm.
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