US military races to vaccinate new recruits before flu shots expire

The US military is racing to vaccinate new recruits after a two-month halt on mandatory flu shots – but it's a temporary reprieve, as the shots will soon expire and new doses will not be available for months.

Officials will need to lean on other prevention measures to contain the growing flu outbreak at Lackland air force base in San Antonio, Texas, experts say.

The flu vaccines now being deployed across military basic training camps are set to expire on 30 June, and new doses will not arrive until August or later.

It is possible military leaders will extend use of the vaccines beyond their expiration date, but that was "unlikely", said Toti Sanchez, the former deputy chief at the armed forces health surveillance division of the US Defense Health Agency. And stock of the vaccine is typically low at this time of year as manufacturers switch to making the next season's doses.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/us-military-races-vaccinate-recruits-151256298.html