Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Regular flu vaccine hard to come by
Reported by: Sabrina Wilson, Reporter
Last Update: 9/21 6:41 pm
Some pharmacies are cancelling flu vaccinations because providers are running on short supply. (Bernel Davis, FOX 8 News) New Orleans - If the growing number of swine flu or H1N1 cases was not enough, the local health care community is having to deal with a shortage of vaccines for the seasonal flu virus.
At Majoria's Drugs, head pharmacist Al Spitale said they had to call of some scheduled flu shots because of a delay in receiving the vaccines from the manufacturer.
"We give shots on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays. We did suspend three shot days because we did run short of the vaccine. We purchased another quantity from another manufacturer at twice the price," Spitale said.
The CDC acknowledged a slight shortage in the seasonal flu vaccine. Spitale said national health experts recommended that shots begin earlier this year.
He added, "A lot of people got a jump on it in the first part of September, rather than the first part of October when we normally start, so they've come in, got a shot. So, the demand is greater upfront."
A higher demand and less inventory at a time when health care providers say the regular flu virus is showing up in patients earlier. Fred Lopez, M.D., of the LSU Health Sciences Center said, "Week to week we're seeing some non-H1N1 seasonal flu virus infections."
Spitale said manufacturers promised to catch up with the demand. "They assure us that sometime around mid-October there will be more flu vaccine for the seasonal flu out there that you could shake a stick at," he said.
Flu vaccinations resume tomorrow at Majoria's. Normally the drug store administers over 200 vaccinations everyday during flu season, according to Spitale.
http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/...e-hard-to-come-by/oAbjOM-3dEazie_w59Y-Xw.cspx
Reported by: Sabrina Wilson, Reporter
Last Update: 9/21 6:41 pm
Some pharmacies are cancelling flu vaccinations because providers are running on short supply. (Bernel Davis, FOX 8 News) New Orleans - If the growing number of swine flu or H1N1 cases was not enough, the local health care community is having to deal with a shortage of vaccines for the seasonal flu virus.
At Majoria's Drugs, head pharmacist Al Spitale said they had to call of some scheduled flu shots because of a delay in receiving the vaccines from the manufacturer.
"We give shots on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays. We did suspend three shot days because we did run short of the vaccine. We purchased another quantity from another manufacturer at twice the price," Spitale said.
The CDC acknowledged a slight shortage in the seasonal flu vaccine. Spitale said national health experts recommended that shots begin earlier this year.
He added, "A lot of people got a jump on it in the first part of September, rather than the first part of October when we normally start, so they've come in, got a shot. So, the demand is greater upfront."
A higher demand and less inventory at a time when health care providers say the regular flu virus is showing up in patients earlier. Fred Lopez, M.D., of the LSU Health Sciences Center said, "Week to week we're seeing some non-H1N1 seasonal flu virus infections."
Spitale said manufacturers promised to catch up with the demand. "They assure us that sometime around mid-October there will be more flu vaccine for the seasonal flu out there that you could shake a stick at," he said.
Flu vaccinations resume tomorrow at Majoria's. Normally the drug store administers over 200 vaccinations everyday during flu season, according to Spitale.
http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/...e-hard-to-come-by/oAbjOM-3dEazie_w59Y-Xw.cspx