Regular vaccine supply falls short

Raoul K. Moquin and his wife, Diane M., have been told they might be out of luck when it comes to getting a seasonal flu shot.

The Massena couple's doctor has run out of vaccine, and St. Lawrence County Public Health has not been able to help them, either, Mr. Moquin said.

He said he worries that his wife's health could deteriorate without a flu shot.

"If it weren't for the medication she has to take to control her rheumatoid arthritis, she might be OK, but the medicine knocks down her immune system," he said. "Even the slightest cold could really do severe harm."

Health officials in St. Lawrence County said they're seeing far greater demand than expected for seasonal flu vaccine, leading to short supplies.

"We ordered less than what we got last year because there were quite a few doses that didn't get used," said Public Health Director Deborah M. Kent. "Then came the swine flu, and everybody was interested in getting flu shots all of a sudden."

Mrs. Kent said Public Health has received only a portion of its seasonal flu vaccine order.

"We've asked to order more, but even at the state level they're saying it's not going to happen," she said.

Claire Pospisil, a state Health Department spokeswoman, said she was not surprised to hear there is not enough vaccine to go around.

"It's really a supply-and-demand issue at this point. This is an issue we have been hearing about in other parts of the state and in other states," Ms. Pospisil said. "There is a shortage. More people got vaccinated this year."

She said H1N1 vaccine still is largely available, and that most of the flu cases reported so far this season are of that strain.

"Unfortunately, I think what has happened is that the H1N1 outbreak in April had people more aware of flu, and I think that was a factor in many people getting vaccinated for seasonal flu early on," Ms. Pospisil said.

At Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Ogdensburg, shipments of flu vaccine have been sporadic and small, said spokeswoman Laura C. Shea.

"Even though we don't have a lot on hand, the state is telling us that we're supposed to have our entire shipment by the end of November. Everybody wants it right now," Mrs. Shea said. "As soon as we get a shipment, we're vaccinating our staff and getting doses out to our health centers. We're trying to prioritize people, and we're not sitting on it."

Mrs. Shea said the hospital is vaccinating only staff and patients admitted to the hospital.

Public Health already has agreed to administer most of its flu vaccine through various organizations, but Mrs. Kent said she hopes there will be some left over for the public.

"We're going to have to see what we have," she said. "I know we got 490 doses in, and I think our total order was for about 2,700."