Two flu seasons means vaccine shortage

The seasonal flu vaccine is in demand.

Some providers in Snohomish County and all providers in Island County have run out of the vaccine.

Manufacturers were in the process of creating the seasonal flu vaccine when scientists identified H1N1, earlier referred to as swine flu, said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, district health officer. The companies interrupted their production of the seasonal vaccine to develop the H1N1 vaccine and tried to increase their capacity to produce both.

“They are both in short supply now,” he said.

This flu season is unusual, Goldbaum said. Instead of just the seasonal flu season, which typically starts in November or December and peaks in January or February, there is also the H1N1 strain, which has already started.

The Camano Community Health Clinic never got the seasonal flu vaccine that it expected, said Rhonda Curry, clinic manager.

“We did not receive one dose,” she said.

The clinic typically offers the vaccine to its patients, Curry said. However, the company that it was ordered from had a shortage in supply due to the development of the H1N1 vaccine.

The clinic hopes to have the seasonal flu vaccine available toward the end of November, Curry said.

The Everett Clinic in Stanwood still has some of the adult seasonal flu vaccine, but none of the children’s version, said April Zepeda, media and communications manager for the Everett Clinic. They are unsure when they might receive more of the vaccine.

More Stanwood residents typically get vaccinated for the seasonal flu than at other area clinics, Zepeda said. On one day this month, the Stanwood clinic gave out almost 800 seasonal flu vaccinations, which is the most one clinic has ever given out in a single day. That was an average of 30 shots per hour.

“Clearly there is a demand,” she said.

The Stanwood QFC Pharmacy has enough of the seasonal flu vaccine for appointments customers have already scheduled through Thursday, said Kristin Maas, QFC spokesperson. However, after those appointments, the pharmacy will be out of the vaccine. They hope to get more.

Rite Aid in Stanwood is still offering the seasonal flu vaccine by appointment only. The flu clinics were canceled. The Haggen Pharmacy in Stanwood is experiencing a shortage, and will hold the scheduled Thursday seasonal flu vaccination clinic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but will not have any afterward.

Goldbaum said he advises people to get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible. However, it is still useful to get it as late as January, since the season continues until February or March.

Goldbaum anticipates more seasonal and H1N1 vaccines will become available at the end of November or December. By December, he expects that everyone who needs either vaccine will be able to get them. Both vaccines have been produced the same way, and are safe.

Next year, the seasonal flu vaccine will likely include the H1N1 influenza strain, he said.

The Stanwood-Camano Fire Department, Snohomish Health District, Island County Health Department, clinics in Stanwood and the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management will host a drive-through H1N1 vaccination clinic in Heritage Park, 9600 276th St. N.W., in Stanwood, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat., Oct. 31. Priority groups to receive the vaccine are pregnant women, youth ages 6 months to 24 years, caregivers of children under 6 months, adults ages 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions, emergency personnel, school teachers, child care workers and health care workers.

The fire department is using the drive-through as a drill for mass vaccinations, said Darin Reid, Stanwood-Camano Fire Department assistant chief. Residents will stay in their vehicles. They will be able to vaccinate about 3,000 people, and hope to get as many who fit in the priority groups as possible.

“We want to get as many vaccinated as we can,” he said.

For more info visit www.snocoflu.com or call the Snohomish County Flu Line at (425) 388-5088.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.