Three quarters of local flu clinics have been postponed due to temporary delays in shipments of injectable influenza vaccine and greater-than-expected demand for the vaccine, the state Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week.
The United States is getting a total of 81 to 83 million doses of flu vaccine, according to the CDC, far exceeding last year’s 61-million-dose supply, and one of the highest amounts ever available in the country. But some shipments have been delayed, so while about 71 million doses have already been delivered, the rest may not arrive until the end of November.
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In addition, the Chiron Corp. recently announced it wouldn’t be able to produce as much vaccine as it originally anticipated. Thus, providers and distributors who ordered from Chiron will receive “substantially less vaccine” than they had ordered, the CDC said.
Locally, Maxim-sponsored clinics and the clinics sponsored by members of the Ocean State Adult Immunization Coalition, among others, use Chiron product, state officials said.
The Department of Health has an online list of flu clinics and will continue to update it as canceled events are rescheduled. The list is at www.health.ri.gov. In addition, a toll-free hotline is available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 1-800-555-7858.
Statewide, doctors’ offices and public clinics have steadily immunized tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders already, officials said. Most high-risk children and adults are already protected.
“It is still early in the season, with most states, including Rhode Island, reporting little flu activity,” Dr. David R. Gifford, the state health director, said in a news release. “Flu season doesn’t usually peak until January or later; so there is plenty of time to get the flu shot once it arrives. This department will continue to work with the [CDC] and local health care providers to monitor vaccine supplies and keep the public informed how and when to get vaccinated.”
The CDC says 70 to 75 million flu vaccine doses would be enough to meet U.S. consumer demand based on previous years, but in some communities, demand may be exceeding historical levels due to concern about avian influenza (“bird flu”) or concerns about last year’s shortage. The CDC is “taking steps to assess consumer demand” for this season.
