Nebraska lifted all restrictions on flu shots Friday. Officials said they didn't want a drop of flu vaccine to be wasted.

The late afternoon announcement followed the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department's initial decision to eliminate vaccine restrictions for two categories: adults aged 50 to 64 and household members and caregivers of high-risk individuals.

Groups originally at a higher priority for shots have had an adequate opportunity to get them, said a press release, and the health department still had more than 1,000 doses of vaccine remaining.

"It is not too late to get a flu shot and even though we have not yet seen significant flu activity locally, that could change over the next several weeks," said health director Bruce Dart.

Contacted after the state announcement, Dart said the health department likely would follow the state's lead.

"We just learned about it," he said. "It makes perfect sense to follow the state's recommendations."

Dr. Joann Schaefer, deputy chief medical officer for the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, said that with a lot of vaccine still on hand and not much local flu activity, demand for vaccine was declining.

"Flu season usually lasts through April and we want each and every existing shot to go into the arm of a Nebraskan and not the trash," she said.

In addition to Nebraska, the states of Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have lifted all vaccination restrictions.

For the week ending Jan. 1, flu cases increased mostly in the eastern United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Half of all positive tests have been in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.

So far this year, the national hospitalization rate for children under age 4 has been seven to 24 times lower than for all of last year.

For the week ending Jan. 1, Nebraska reported only sporadic flu activity, but the surrounding states of South Dakota and Kansas reported "local activity," a higher tier, while Colorado and Iowa reported a still higher level, "regional activity."

Groups previously permitted to receive shots were: individuals age 65 and older; children aged 6 to 23 months; those 2 to 49 with underlying chronic medical conditions; women who will be pregnant during the flu season; children and teenagers 6 months to 18 years who take aspirin daily; residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months.

Children 6 months to 8 years of age who are receiving flu immunizations for the first time should receive two doses of vaccine, given at least one month apart. Many children may have received only one dose this season and a second dose is now available.

Reach Mark Andersen at 473-7238 or at mandersen@journalstar.com.

How to get the shot: The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department will give up to 400 flu shots daily between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at its main office, 3140 N St.

Individuals coming to the department for shots later in the morning or in the afternoon should check the department's Flu Hotline at  441-0358 for vaccine availability.

Through the health department, those on Medicare Part B can receive both flu and pneumococcal polysacchride vaccine at no cost. Those not on Medicare will be charged a flat fee of $17 for flu vaccine and $26 for pneumococcal polysacchride vaccine. There is a $10 administration fee for children's flu shots.