By Daniel Hartill,Staff Writer

With local doctors seeing new flu cases every day, the Veterans Administration is making the vaccine available to every vet in the state.

“A lot of people have experienced heightened anxieties over getting these shots,” said James Doherty, spokesman for the Togus VA Medical Center.

“And there’s still plenty of flu out there,” Doherty said.

In Lewiston, between one and three people with influenza have been going to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center every day, spokeswoman Kayt deMerchant said. Yet, few are being admitted.

“We’re seeing a lot of cases, but thankfully, few are serious,” deMerchant said.

Across Maine, 178 suspected flu cases were reported to the state’s Bureau of Health by Jan. 25.

Meanwhile, greater availability of the vaccine led the bureau to lift its restrictions on who would be given the shots.

Now, healthy people without the traditional risk factors may get the vaccine if they wish. At St. Mary’s, anyone who wants the shot is encouraged to call their doctor.

Meanwhile, any veteran enrolled in the VA can get it free of charge. All are encouraged to call Togus or their nearest veteran’s clinic. The clinics are located in Saco, Bangor, Calais, Caribou and Rumford.

Doctors have already been administering the shots for months, said Doherty, the VA spokesman.

Last fall, when the shortage began, the VA in Maine received about 10,000 doses.

“The people that really needed the vaccine, got it,” Doherty said of the older or sick veterans.

“In the past, 10,000 doses was always adequate,” he said. But the shortage led to a boost in demand that forced the VA to tighten its restrictions.

“I know we didn’t run out,” he said. However, some people who wanted the shot didn’t get it.

With an added 3,000 doses of the vaccine delivered to the VA in recent weeks, there’s now plenty for all, he said.