At least 70 people will be able to receive flu shots today from the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

The department’s previous stocks of vaccine were exhausted.

A “limited supply” of vaccine will be available only to people who are at the highest risk of suffering influenza complications, said Elaine Houston, the department’s immunization coordinator.

Immunizations will be given to people age 65 and older; people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or weakened immune systems; children 6 months to 23 months of age; and pregnant women in the second or third trimester during the flu season.

Houston said shots would be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or as long as the supply lasted, at the Health Department, 200 Maine.

Between 70 and 85 doses will be available depending on how many clients require the child or adult dose, she said. The Health Department has previously exhausted its stocks of vaccine but has been working with state health officials to acquire additional doses.

Vaccine is in short supply in the United States, in part, because manufacturers produced 12 million fewer units of the vaccine than last year.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment declared flu widespread in Kansas, a designation that hadn’t been made since at least the 1999-2000 season.

Houston said she was uncertain whether the Health Department would receive more vaccine soon.

“We’re hopeful, but we really don’t know,” she said.

Janice Early-Weas, director of community relations at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, said there was no sign at the hospital that the volume of influenza cases had slowed.

“We are actually seeing an increase in flu cases at the hospital,” she said.

She said Thursday that the emergency room recorded 98 cases of flu in November and 158 cases so far in December. Thirty-nine cases have been reported since Tuesday, Early-Weas said.

However, there is some evidence the wave of flu-related absenteeism in Lawrence public schools may have passed.

The district had 285 of 9,700 students absent from class Thursday, with Southwest Junior High School recording the highest total at 33.

On Dec. 10, the district had 671 students absent. South Junior High School had 208 students out on Dec. 8.

“Sounds like most folks are getting well just in time for winter break,” said Julie Boyle, the district’s communications director.

Houston said healthy people between 5 and 49 years of age should check with their health care provider about acquiring the nasal spray version of the flu vaccine.

The department recommends that people with flu-like symptoms stay home from work, school or day care to avoid infecting others. People should cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing and wash hands frequently and thoroughly.