two thirds last year.

Senior Medical Officer Brenda Davidson said there were only 815 reported cases of flu in 2000 compared to 2,320 cases in 1999.

In addition, Dr. Davidson said there were an unusually low number of reported cases in the last week of December with only 19 people who came in.

But she said she was crossing her fingers, however, as the period when most people get the flu has not yet hit.

"If we are going to get an outbreak it's usually in January or February,'' she said.

It was fortunate there was no epidemic as the year's end saw the vaccine arriving rather late.

Despite a worldwide shortage of the vaccination, roughly 2,000 doses were distributed across the Island to general practitioners, rest homes, and prisons at year's end.

The shortage was due to problems manufacturing the correct formula for this season's flu virus.

Dr. Davidson explained that getting the vaccine to those who are most at risk prevents the chance of a major epidemic.

But she said the Government clinic still has vaccine available for members of the public. She added that the extra weekend clinics held at the end of the year were "well received''.