The flu is finally here

10:25 AM EST on Wednesday, January 26, 2005

At a Metro Health Department clinic, 90-year-old Mary Mulligan is finally getting her flu shot, after pushing it this year.

“I couldn't stand in those long lines and wait,” she says.

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And her son, he was already sick with just a cold and doesn't want the flu -- it would cost him business.

“If I missed, being a CPA at this time of year, it costs dearly,” says Bill Mulligan.

Kentucky is now one of ten states in the country reporting widespread flu activity.

There were no flu reports when the long lines were everywhere in Kentuckiana, but now they are gone. The rush to get a shot has stopped.

“So we don’t' have tremendous amounts of large stored up vaccine that we haven't given to the community,” says Dr. Matt Zahn.

And the Metro Health Department says so far the number of people over the last four weeks with the flu stands at 10 to 20 a week.

“We know this is the tip of the iceberg, only a small number of the people getting sick,” Dr. Zahn says.

And the real debate continues: With demand easing, should any leftover vaccine now be given to the general public?

“That's happened in several states,” Dr. Zahn says. “Kentucky has not opened that up.”

For Mary Mulligan, it means she can get back to her bowling game: Every Monday morning for three hours.

To give you an idea of how the frenzy has subsided over the flu shots, Tuesday at that health department clinic, four people signed up for shots. During the height of the craziness, 1,500 to 2,000 people were standing in lines.

And we want to emphasize again, that you still must meet the special health and age guidelines before you can get a shot.

Kentucky health leaders are actively talking daily about whether they should open the shots up to the public as the flu season hits its peak.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.