Originally published Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 4:28 PM

Gregoire OKs emergency money for flu season

Gov. Chris Gregoire has approved $700,000 in emergency spending to buy more antiviral medicine for the next flu season.

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire has approved $700,000 in emergency spending to buy more antiviral medicine for the next flu season.

Health officials will also be getting another $150,000 to cover some of the costs from this spring's swine flu outbreak.

Health Secretary Mary Selecky says there's no way to be sure what the next flu season will bring. But health officials want to be prepared.

Meanwhile, the health department is reminding parents that the state's childhood vaccine program is about to change. As of next May, state money will no longer pay for vaccines for kids, but federal dollars will still cover shots for low-income children.

As of Wednesday, the state of Washington will no longer pay for the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

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