Supply of flu vaccine is dwindling

By Warren King, Sandi Doughton and Kyung Song
Seattle Times staff reporters

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The state of Washington's reserve supply of flu vaccine could run out as early as next week, raising concerns about whether clinics and physicians will have enough on hand in the coming weeks to protect the high-risk children they are charged with serving.

The Department of Health, which supplies vaccine only for high-risk children through public and private clinics, says it has only 10,000 doses in reserve after already distributing about 92,000 doses. Some of the initial doses still are available, but the reserve could run out as early as next week, said Donn Moyer, department spokesman.

Some medical clinics that serve the general population also said they were running low, and commercial providers that offer the vaccine at stores and offices also said their supplies were diminishing — news that comes as the two manufacturers of the vaccine said they have no more to distribute.

"We're OK for now — but when we're out, we're out," said Moyer, a day after local health officials and pediatricians urged parents to have very young and chronically ill children and their frequent contacts immunized.

Influenza is widespread in the state and nationally in the earliest flu season in years. Five children in Colorado have died of the disease already this flu season, officials said.

Where to get a flu shot Many private doctors and clinics still have vaccine. • Get a Flu Shot.com has a few clinics scheduled at stores around the Puget Sound region. For a list, check the Web site: getaflushot.com • A few hundred doses are available by appointment at Prevention MD, 8816 152nd Ave. N.E., Redmond, 425-739-0700. • Public Health — Seattle & King County has vaccine available at its clinics. More information is available online at www.metrokc.gov/health/sts_svs/immuniz.htm, or by calling 206-296-4949. • The Snohomish Health District has vaccine at its clinics. Call 425-339-5224, or check online at: www.snohd.org • Some Fred Meyer and Top Food stores in the Puget Sound region have vaccine. Call ahead to check the supply. Preventing spread of flu Health officials urge good hygiene: • Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. • Wash your hands frequently. • Stay home from work or school when you're ill.

David Bibus, immunizations program manager for Public Health — Seattle & King County, said, "We're not aware of a shortage now, but we're closely monitoring it. We know there is high demand, and we're not quite sure how long the vaccine will last."

State and King County health officials said they don't have a clear picture of supplies for healthy children and adults, though vaccine still was available at many locations yesterday. The results of a King County survey of physicians will be known next week.

Spokane Health District authorities ran out of the vaccine this week, but they were able to get more from a distributor yesterday, Moyer said.

Chiron and Aventis Pasteur, the vaccine manufacturers, said yesterday they had shipped all their vaccine to distributors nationwide and did not have enough time to make more before the end of the flu season.

About 83 million doses were made and distributed, and the country has never used more than 80 million, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"This year it appears that many more people than in recent years received a flu shot during October and November, and unlike other years, there is high interest in obtaining flu shots into December," Julie Gerberding, CDC director, said yesterday.

More people than usual also have been immunized in Washington state, said Maxine Hayes, state health officer. She said "people who want the flu vaccine should contact their health-care provider soon."

Group Health Cooperative said it already had given 100,000 flu shots this year, compared with 80,000 in a typical year. The supply is "thinning," and the co-op will know next week when its distributor can provide more, said spokeswoman Laura Query.

Shortage "is not an issue yet, but it's something we don't want to become an issue," Query said.

Dr. Michael Lazarus, a Kirkland pediatrician, said his vaccine supply is rapidly dwindling. He finally found a distributor yesterday to sell him 20 doses.

"It's frustrating," he said. "We're encouraged to give vaccines, then we're caught not able to do it."

Commercial vaccine providers who give shots in nonmedical settings were having significant problems.

"We're all out," said Gary Bequette, marketing director for Prevention M.D., which conducts nearly 1,000 flu-immunization clinics at stores and offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. "I just sold our last 5,000 doses."

The company's final batch went to Fred Meyer and Top Foods, which will be offering the shots at stores around the region.

"Usually, after Thanksgiving you can't give the stuff away," said Bequette, who had to discard $80,000 worth of unused vaccine after last year's mild flu season.

Steve Allred, founder of Get A Flu Shot.com, the biggest private provider of flu shots in Washington and Oregon, said that nationally, millions of doses went to waste last year.

So far this year, the company has administered more than 80,000 flu shots — a 25 percent increase over last year. They just received a final shipment of 5,000 doses that will be dispensed around the region, Allred said.

No shortage has been reported of a flu vaccine delivered by nasal spray and available for the first time this year.

MedImmune, makers of FluMist, were still promoting the vaccine this week and said last month it had not sold well.

FluMist is made with a weakened, live virus, while the traditional, injected vaccine made by Chiron and Aventis Pasteur uses a killed virus.

FluMist cannot be given to people younger than 5 or older than 50; those with immune deficiency, asthma, chronic diseases of the heart or lung and other disorders; and pregnant women. A physician should be consulted about its use.

Warren King: 206-464-2247 or wking@seattletimes.com

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