Seasonal flu vaccine scarce

Just as doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine have become available across the Shoals, medical professionals are confronted with widespread shortages of the seasonal flu vaccine.

"We're hopeful we will get more in, and we're doing all we can to make that happen," said Dr. Karen Landers, area health officer for the region that includes Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties. "Some (vaccine) was available, and it's gotten out, but there are still needs out there for the regular seasonal flu vaccine."

Regular flu season officially begins today and will go through the end of March. Each year, manufacturers create a vaccine based on the previous season's virus. This year, however, demand has far outpaced supply, leaving health departments, physicians' offices and pharmacies without the vaccine.

The Shoals is not the only area experiencing a shortage. Cities across the country have reported similar situations with the seasonal flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not released information indicating a national vaccine shortage.

At Milner-Rushing Discount Drugs on Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have given all of the 4,000 seasonal flu vaccine dosages they ordered earlier this year.

Pharmacist Dennis Whitehead said physicians have emphasized the need among their patients to get the vaccine this year, especially with the presence of the H1N1 influenza virus strain.

"People are also beginning to realize the importance of getting it and getting past the idea that (taking the vaccine) could make them sick," he said.

Even though there is still a need among high-risk groups that include the elderly, Whitehead said he has no indications Milner-Rushing will receive any more of the vaccine.

"What we've gotten might be all we get this year," he said.

One possible reason for the delay in getting seasonal flu vaccines could be the expansion of high-risk groups, Landers said. All school-aged children and pregnant women have been added in recent years, she said.

Others in high-risk groups include people 50 years old and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions and health care workers.

At local hospitals, vaccines remain in storage. Tom Whetstone, spokesman for Coffee Health Group, said those vaccines will be used on patients admitted to the hospital throughout the season.

Coffee Health Group includes Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital and ECM East in Florence and Shoals Hospital in Muscle Shoals.

Whetstone said Coffee ordered 3,000 dosages of the vaccine, but has only received 1,750. The remaining 1,250 are expected to arrive during the first half of November.

"There seems to be more of an interest in the (seasonal flu) vaccine in the community and among the general public," Whetstone said.

"It also seems as though physicians are encouraging their patients more to take the vaccine than we've seen in the past."

Even with the additional vaccines expected to arrive soon, he said it's not likely Coffee will have flu clinics for the public.

"We've always ordered 3,000 dosages, and when we had a lot remaining we would offer it at clinics, but I don't anticipate we'll be able to do that this year based on the number we've already used," Whetstone said.

Julia Broughner, spokeswoman for Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, said the facility ordered 2,000 doses and has already met the demand among employees who wanted to take the vaccine.

"We've also made it available to the community," she said. "Right now, we have enough flu vaccine in-house to meet our current in-patient demand."

In the meantime, Landers said practicing good hand hygiene will go a long way toward staving off not just respiratory illnesses but also gastrointestinal problems.

"We continue to stress covering a cough and using good cough etiquette, hand washing or using hand sanitizer, and staying home when you're sick," she said. "These are basic health measures we continue to reinforce."

And when the vaccine does become available, Landers said it won't be too late to get it.

"We have seasonal flu clinics throughout the season, so, even in January or February, it won't be too late to have it," she said.

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@TimesDaily.com.