State gets 40 percent less than expected
AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) -- In the federal government's first weekly allotment of swine flu vaccine, Texas has received about 40 percent less than expected.
A statement issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services on Tuesday said it had expected to get 237,000 vaccines in the first allocation, but only got 142,400.
All of those vaccines are in the form of FluMist, a nasal spray. The state health department says most of that first allotment will go to doctors, clinics and other providers to vaccinate healthy 2- and 3-year-olds, who are part a priority group.
FluMist is only for healthy people ages 2 to 49.
Doses are being sent to local public health departments and state health department regional sites, but state officials say there aren't enough doses for public vaccination clinics.
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