State: Demand for high-dose flu shots running high

CDC, public health leaders pushing especially hard for people to get vaccinated

The state Department of Public Health is urging residents 65 and older to investigate the availability of high-dose flu shots before heading to their local pharmacy.

High demand for the high- dose shots in Connecticut and across the country has caused some locations to run out, Mick Bolduc, an epidemiologist and vaccine coordinator for the department’s immunization program, said Friday.

“It’s out there, but it might not be available at the pharmacy you normally go to,” he said. “We advocate people make some phone calls.”

Bolduc also recommended the website vaccinefinder.org. “You

punch in your ZIP code, whatever radius you want to check (up to 50 miles) and find out who has the high- dose vaccine,” he said. “We recommend you then call before you go to make sure they have it.”

“Right now is the optimal time to get vaccinated,” Bolduc said.

Anyone 65 or older who is unable to get a high-dose flu shot should get the regular dose, he said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Department of Public Health and local health departments have pushed especially hard for people to get flu shots this season to prevent flu-related hospitalizations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, the number of flu cases reported in Connecticut has been low, although data won’t be available for a couple of weeks, Bolduc said. Cases typically peak in December, January and February, increasing as the holidays approach and colder weather sends people indoors.

Bolduc said supplies of regular doses of the flu vaccine are plentiful. More doses than usual — close to 185 million — were manufactured this year in anticipation of high demand. The number includes the doses for those 65 and older.

While more shipments of vaccine are expected to be delivered into December, no more doses will be manufactured at this point, Bolduc said.

Flu shots provide no protection against COVID-19.