Flu fears may drive vaccine shortages

Swine flu-driven fears may have led to an increase in demand for seasonal flu vaccinations and subsequent shortages this fall.

A few weeks ago, officials with Swiftwater-based vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur said they made 50 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine – about 45 percent of the vaccine produced in the U.S. – and sent them out to distributors on time by late summer.

Typically, that gives doctors, businesses and health clinics plenty of time to advertise that they have the shot and schedule them for customers and patients. The shots typically are administered in October and November.

However, some businesses and stores canceled the shots because they couldn’t get an adequate amount on that schedule. Those who went to the CVS in Kingston last week for the store’s seasonal flu vaccine clinic found out there were not enough vaccinations and the clinic was canceled. It will not be rescheduled.

This year, success in getting vaccinated came down to how early those seeking a flu shot went out to get one.

Eric Harkreader, a Rite-Aid corporate spokesman, said the drug store chain had no problem with its clinics in September and October, but since then there have been spot shortages in shipments and clinics have been canceled. He said some stores will offer shots by certified pharmacists next month and customers should contact their local Rite-Aid pharmacies to find out if they will be participating.

An increase in demand, thanks in part because of swine flu concerns, may also be at play.

Stacy Kriedeman, press secretary for the state Department of Health, said anecdotally speaking that is a potential cause for what seems to be a shortage. It’s not that enough wasn’t made or delivered on time, but that more people than in previous years were interested in getting the shot – and earlier.

“I think that it’s probably likely the increased attention given to the H1N1 vaccine also sparked an increased interest in seasonal flu vaccines,” Kriedeman said.

“Yes, we saw a significant increase in demand for seasonal flu shots this year. We actually began our flu shot campaign a month earlier than usual given the anticipated demand due to last spring’s H1N1 outbreak,” said Mike DeAngelis, public relations director for CVS.

Amy Lingobardo, a spokeswoman for Geisinger Wyoming Valley, said “the demand has far exceeded what it had been in previous years.”

She said the health system expected an increased number of requests because of swine flu concerns and ordered an additional 20 percent on top of its typical seasonal flu shot supply. She could not immediately provide the number of doses Geisinger ordered or received. She said some doses are left with various Geisinger providers and patients should contact their primary care physicians to see if theirs has them.

Kriedeman said even with the canceled clinics and concerns, it’s not too late to get vaccinated.

“It’s OK to get vaccinated in November, even into early December. We don’t start to see flu activity until the holidays and it usually peaks in the end of January, into February and even early March. You still have time,” she said.