Flu vaccine is readily available in Douglas County for the first time this flu season, and more people will be allowed to receive shots.

Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department officials made the decision Monday to expand on the high-priority groups designated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health department spokeswoman Janelle Martin said people who were 50 and older or lived with a person in a high-priority group now could receive flu shots.

Health department officials made the decision after receiving notice from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the CDC. Previously, people 65 and older and children younger than 6 months residing with a person in the high-priority group were allowed flu shots.

By expanding the eligibility for immunization, KDHE interim director Richard Morrissey said more people would have access to the vaccine.

“However, if local providers are still seeing a demand for vaccine from the original high-risk group, they may choose to continue those restrictions until that demand is met,” he said.

Martin said about 600 doses of flu vaccine remained from Sunday’s joint flu clinic with Kansas University and after an immunization clinic on Monday. Those flu shots, paired with more vaccine coming from the state, prompted health officials to expand access to vaccine.

People can receive a flu shot from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the health department, 200 Maine.

The cost for a shot is $12 for children younger than 3 and $17 for all others. People should have their insurance cards with them for billing purposes.