Seasonal flu vaccine supplies running short Oct. 9, 2009 With all the focus on the H1N1 vaccine, northwoods health care providers have encountered a surprising problem—a shortage of the seasonal flu immunizations.
With supplies dwindling very quickly, the Langlade County Health Department has postponed two flu clinics scheduled later this month in Elcho and Antigo, and will have only a few doses available at Langlade Hospital’s health and wellness expo on Saturday.
“We have the vaccine coming. It is on order,” Health Department Director Holly Matucheski said. “We’re doing the best we can.”
Matucheski said the department ordered its usual supply—about 1,500 vaccines—in January, and that usually is plenty.
But with the new emphasis on vaccinations, more people than ever lined up to receive the vaccination. Manufacturers also turned their attention from the seasonal flu shots toward churning out H1N1 vaccines rather than the season flu varieties.
Matucheski said the shortage is not unique to Antigo, and is being felt in clinics and health departments across the northwoods.
The H1N1 vaccine should begin arriving in Antigo late next week, with priorities going to health care workers first, Matucheski said, and then extending to the general population as more becomes available.
“As soon as we have it, we will let people know,” she said, advising people to watch the newspaper for notices.
Seasonal flu shots should be available again in late November or December, she said, still plenty of time for the vaccine to be effective for the usual flu season that arrives in mid to late winter.
Matucheski said that people who have not gotten their seasonal flu shot should still get the H1N1vaccine when it becomes available, and then add the seasonal variety later.
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