Commonground
Senior Moderator
(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The struggle to keep up with the need for seasonal flu shots is hitting close to home.
Fillmore County Public Health sent out a press release. In it, they quote the CDC as saying there is plenty of seasonal influenza vaccine available this year. They sent that out just 7 days ago, and they're already out of the vaccine. They're not the only ones running out.
The phones here at public health have been ringing off the hook.
"We had clinics scheduled for the first three days of this week, and as of yesterday afternoon, they were cancelled, due to a lack of supply," said Fillmore County Public Health Educator Brenda Pohlman.
Fillmore County Public Health ordered 1,200 doses of the vaccine, but only got about half of that, and they don't know when the rest is coming.
"We've been told that anywhere up to 20% may not be delivered until November, so we could be waiting,? said Pohlman.
And they're not alone. Austin Medical Center had to cancel its clinic this week, because it hadn't received any of its shipment.
The Minnesota Department of Health says there's a reason for the delay.
"We've started vaccinations well over a month early, and we've increased demand, and then we've got manufacturers trying to produce both seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations. So we definitely have created a drain on the pipeline," said Kris Ehresmann, the Director of Infectious Diseases at the Minnesota Department of Health.
But officials say the door hasn't closed on vaccinations. They are coming, even if it takes a few months.
"It's not too late at all to get a vaccine, in fact, it's never too late to get an influenza vaccine,? said Ehresmann.
The Minnesota Department of Health says flu season doesn't peak until late January or early February, so they say even with the late shipments; you'll have plenty of time to get vaccinated.
Olmsted County Medical Center also held its only walk-in flu clinic this year, but it is unclear at this point if they faced a shortage.
http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/s1155438.shtml?cat=10151
Fillmore County Public Health sent out a press release. In it, they quote the CDC as saying there is plenty of seasonal influenza vaccine available this year. They sent that out just 7 days ago, and they're already out of the vaccine. They're not the only ones running out.
The phones here at public health have been ringing off the hook.
"We had clinics scheduled for the first three days of this week, and as of yesterday afternoon, they were cancelled, due to a lack of supply," said Fillmore County Public Health Educator Brenda Pohlman.
Fillmore County Public Health ordered 1,200 doses of the vaccine, but only got about half of that, and they don't know when the rest is coming.
"We've been told that anywhere up to 20% may not be delivered until November, so we could be waiting,? said Pohlman.
And they're not alone. Austin Medical Center had to cancel its clinic this week, because it hadn't received any of its shipment.
The Minnesota Department of Health says there's a reason for the delay.
"We've started vaccinations well over a month early, and we've increased demand, and then we've got manufacturers trying to produce both seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations. So we definitely have created a drain on the pipeline," said Kris Ehresmann, the Director of Infectious Diseases at the Minnesota Department of Health.
But officials say the door hasn't closed on vaccinations. They are coming, even if it takes a few months.
"It's not too late at all to get a vaccine, in fact, it's never too late to get an influenza vaccine,? said Ehresmann.
The Minnesota Department of Health says flu season doesn't peak until late January or early February, so they say even with the late shipments; you'll have plenty of time to get vaccinated.
Olmsted County Medical Center also held its only walk-in flu clinic this year, but it is unclear at this point if they faced a shortage.
http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/s1155438.shtml?cat=10151