County can’t provide flu shots

The Newport Beach OASIS Senior Center has canceled its program that provides free seasonal flu shots to senior citizens this year because of a nationwide shortage of the vaccine.

The city of Newport Beach each year normally receives about 300 flu shots from the Orange County Health Care Agency and offer them at no charge to community members.

County officials recently notified the city that it could not obtain its usual supply of flu shots from the federal government, so it would be unable to provide any to Newport Beach.

City officials are encouraging senior citizens who normally participate in the city’s program to contact their doctor or pharmacist for information on where else they can receive a flu shot.

— Brianna Bailey