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Probably Enough Flu Vaccine This Year

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 October 2005, 15:01 CDT

By Elaine Jarvik Deseret Morning News

There will be enough flu vaccine this year. Probably.

That's the tentatively optimistic word from federal and local health administrators as they take stock of inventory and try to guess what will happen next. Some private providers haven't received any vaccine yet, but the shipments are expected to arrive any day now.

At Exodus Healthcare Network in Magna and West Valley City, and at Wasatch Internal Medicine and Family Practice in Holladay, patients have been calling for weeks asking about the shots.

"We're patiently waiting," says Wasatch Internal office manager Cheryl Willey. The expected shipment has already been promised twice and then delayed. Meanwhile, local grocery stores and health departments have already received some of their allotments.

The uneven distribution is expected to improve, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which on Tuesday issued a vaccine update. "FDA anticipates the production of more vaccine than last year," according to a press release, despite lowered projections from flu vaccine manufacturer Chiron.

Concerns over the safety of Chiron's supply last year prompted British authorities to suspend the company's license. Chiron will be allowed to distribute flu vaccine this year, "however, as with all influenza vaccine manufacturers, Chiron's influenza vaccine must undergo safety testing and lot release evaluation before it can be released to the market," said Dr. Jesse Goodman, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

According to the FDA, "while occasional spot shortages may occur as manufacturers complete their final testing, we expect these shortages to resolve as vaccine continues to be released to health- care providers and others who administer the vaccine."

Those "others" nationwide include nontraditional settings such as banks, health clubs and retail stores such as Bed, Bath and Beyond and Meier and Frank.

Flu shots at these clinics are administered by nurses provided by companies such as Professional Flu Clinics. Based in Denver, Professional Flu Clinics now runs clinics in 34 states.

"We're in the midst of scrambling to get more vaccine," says Professional Flu Clinics president Steve Olsen. The confusion over Chiron's status has meant that most vaccine allocations have been cut back, he says, even those to companies, such as his, that did not order any vaccine from Chiron. "It's caused a ripple effect," he says.

Professional Flu Clinics had originally ordered 2.5 million vaccines from Glaxo-SmithKline. "That's been cut back almost weekly. It's created a nightmare for us and our hosts," Olsen says. He predicts his company will eventually end up with somewhere between 750,000 and one million doses.

Last year was much worse, he says -- greater shortages in the beginning and then a surplus, by the end of the season, that led to a lot of product being thrown away.

"So many of our patients got vaccines at the grocery store" when their doctors' supplies were delayed last year, says Wasatch Internal's Willey. "It all comes down to timing."

Although most people assume they can only get flu shots in October and November, says Linda Abel, immunization program manager with the Utah Department of Health, even January or February is a good time to get one (assuming you haven't already been unlucky enough to come down with the flu before then). Utah's flu season typically runs between January and March.

The Salt Lake Valley Health Department pre-ordered its vaccines last March, "the minute it came available," says Sue Nicodemus, SLVHD immunization coordinator.

"So far we're not hearing of anything that's making us concerned about the supply," she says. SLVHD will provide two additional clinics, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State. Its first clinic, last Saturday, was only for people considered high-risk, including people 65 and over, and children under 2.

"The senior citizens were lined up at the door" before the doors opened at 9, says SLVHD spokesperson Pam Davenport. The clinic provided shots for about 2,000 people. "We were hoping more would come . . . but it made for a good start," she says.

In part because of a new federal excise tax on the vaccine, the cost has risen a few dollars this year. The Health Department charges $20 ($29 for FluMist). Some retail outlets charge $25.

E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com

Source: Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

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