Flu shot shortage won't halt clinic

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Oct 06, 2004 | by Rindfleisch, Terry

A mass flu immunization clinic will go on Saturday as scheduled despite British regulators unexpectedly shutting down a major flu-shot supplier Tuesday, prompting a record shortage in this country just as flu season is about to begin.

At this time, adults and children can receive the vaccine at the clinic, but area health officials warn that the vaccine soon could be restricted to people at high risk for flu complications.

"We're anticipating that everyone who wants the vaccine can get it, and we don't expect that to change for this mass immunization clinic," said Doug Mormann, La Crosse County Health Department director. "But with this new development, we could get a lot more people at Saturday's clinic."

The Coulee Region Public Health Consortium, Gundersen Lutheran and Franciscan Skemp Healthcare are sponsoring a clinic with enough vaccine for 1,500 people from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the La Crosse Center.

The clinic is open to residents in La Crosse, Buffalo, Jackson, Trempealeau and Monroe counties and the Ho-Chuck Nation. Children will be vaccinated free of charge, and adult vaccines will be available for $8, at least half of the usual cost, he said. Health insurance may be accepted.

Americans' supply of flu vaccine was abruptly cut in half Tuesday by the British regulators' action, prompting the U.S. government to ask most healthy adults to delay or skip flu shots so that the elderly and others most at risk from influenza can get scarce supplies.

The Bush administration urged the public and doctors to begin voluntary rationing of the roughly 54 million flu shots that will be available this year.

Vaccine should be reserved for people at high risk.

For everyone else, "take a deep breath. This is not an emergency," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We don't want people to rush out and look for a vaccine today."

British regulators suspended the license of Chiron Corp. for three months, citing manufacturing problems at the Liverpool, England, factory where Chiron makes its leading Fluvirin flu vaccine. Chiron's problem started in August, when it discovered contamination in 4 million doses. But less than two weeks ago, top U.S. health officials assured the public that close FDA monitoring of the rest of the supply showed it was fine.

The sanction means more than a delay, Chiron officials said: The company will not ship Fluvirin anywhere this year, including the 46 million to 48 million doses planned for the United States.

The rest of the U.S. flu shot supply - 54 million doses - is coming from Aventis Pasteur, which already has begun shipping.

Mormann said the flu vaccine for Saturday's immunization clinic comes from Aventis. Both La Crosse hospitals also have flu vaccine from Aventis.

"We're waiting for guidance from the federal government in deciding who should get the vaccine," Mormann said. "Giving it first to high-risk is a possibility."

Marilyn Michels, director of infection control at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, said nurses have been advised to screen people who want a vaccine appointment and call back people if they are not in the high-risk group. "We're not restricting to only high-risk, but we anticipate to go that route," Michels said.

Carol Cantlon, infection control coordinator at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, said the medical center has scheduled vaccine clinics this month, but she doesn't know who will get the vaccine. "We're holding still until we hear a little more from CDC," Cantlon said.

Ellen Moldenhauer, Jackson County's public health officer, said she gets the county's flu vaccine from Aventis and gave flu shots for the first time this fall at a public clinic Monday. "Right now we plan to proceed with our clinics, but we don't know the impact of a shortage. We're expecting the priority will be those at high risk," she said.