OSAGE, Iowa (KTTC) -- As of Tuesday, Mitchell County Public Health has reported it has fewer than 80 doses left of flu vaccine at its clinic in Osage.
"This is a busier year for influenza cases than we've seen in the past couple of years," said LaVonne Wolf, nurse administrator.
Wolf said Mitchell County Public Health has seen a rise in visitors coming for the flu shot in the past week. Many are coming in after witnessing a friend or family member catch the flu. Some have been turned away from other public health departments where they've run out of the vaccine, like Worth County.
"They're glad to know we have vaccine," Wolf said. "Several people have checked with other providers and have been told they are out. We've seen some people come from Mason City and Southern Minnesota to get vaccine."
Worth County Public Health ran out of its supply on Monday. When the department tried ordering more they were told by their supplier there were no more shots available. Now, the department is referring people to Cerro Gordo County Public Health. Both, Cerro Gordo and Mitchell counties, have reported an influx in visitors in the past four days.
"We've given about 40 doses in the last four days," Wolf said. "We'd like to get rid of those [doses] this week if we could, because it means people are protected."
Many counties still have a strong supply of vaccines. Freeborn, Mower, Olmsted, Fillmore and Dodge counties say they have enough shots to meet current demand.
