Drug store chain postpones flu shot clinics

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Flu shot clinics have been postponed at more than 400 Longs Drugs stores in six western states because of reduced allocations of influenza vaccine and delays in shipment.

The affected stores are in California, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii.

Aventis, primary flu vaccine manufacturer for the Visiting Nurse Association that gives the shots, has notified the drugstore chain to expect a 75 percent reduction in its November allocation of the vaccine.

The rest of the November allocation will be delivered in December. And even the November deliveries will be delayed by two weeks, meaning they won't be available until the latter part of this month.

Peter Koo, director of pharmacy marketing for Longs, said it was important for people at high risk to get the vaccinations first and said ''we urge those not at high risk to wait until December to receive flu shots.''

This year's flu vaccine is designed to provide protection against the Panama, New Caldonia and Yamanashi flu viruses, which have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control as the most likely to cause serious illness.