http://www.eonow.com/news/stories/2001/oct/14a.shtml

10-14-01

Flu shot problems continue

Vaccines going to those in highest risk categories

By KYLE ODEGARD of the East Oregonian

PENDLETON — Health officials hope a flu shot shortage won’t happen again this year, but problems with the distribution of the influenza vaccine continue.

Some health care providers in the area already received all of their vaccine, but others got only partial shipments. A few, such as the Morrow County Health Department, haven’t received any doses at all. The situation is much better than last year, though, said Fred Hoesly, epidemiologist for the Oregon Health Division.

This year, one of the three major manufacturers of flu shots — Wyeth Lederle Vaccines — has had difficulty growing strains of the influenza vaccine.

“Last year, all of the manufacturers were having problems,” Hoesly said.

Though there will be more doses of the vaccine available this year, the price of purchasing them has doubled in many cases for health care providers.

A few agencies, such as the Grant County Health Department and Union County Center for Human Development, switched providers and faced double the cost to guarantee they would have the vaccine by mid-September.

“Last year, we got ours in November, and we didn’t get all of our vaccines,” said Trisha Blackman, Union County immunization coordinator. “We had a lot of people mad at us. It was frantic. They found out there was a shortage, and they wanted their shots as soon as they could get them.”

Receiving shots late last year cost the Umatilla, Grant, Morrow and Wallowa County health departments money.

“Many people in the community had gone elsewhere and received their doses. We were sitting on vaccine that we couldn’t use,” said Donna Adams, business office manager for the Grant County Health Department.

Umatilla County had 1,500 doses — each bought for $3 — that it couldn’t use, couldn’t return to its distributor and couldn’t save for this year.

Umatilla County Health Department ordered fewer shots this year, but has received only 25 percent of them.

“We have every intention of getting it (the rest of the shipment) by Nov. 1,” said Sharon Kline, director of the Umatilla County Health Department.

Laura Burnside-McElligot, public health director for Morrow County, said her agency took a gamble this year by sticking with Wyeth Lederle Vaccines, which had a lower cost than other manufacturers.

She plans to make orders from two distributors next season to ensure one of them arrives in full.

Wallowa County ordered from several companies this year, and only Wyeth Lederle Vaccines was unable to provide the vaccine on time.

Wyeth Lederle Vaccines said it would ship 10 percent of orders on or about Oct. 29. By the end of November, customers should have 40 percent of their orders.

Agencies who have only received partial doses have reserved that for high risk individuals, such as the elderly. Many health officials and hospitals throughout the region already are vaccinating high risk individuals.

It’s best for people to get flu shots in October or November. But if flu shots come late, it is still beneficial to get them in December and even early January, because antibodies would build up before the typical flu season arrives, Kline said.

Dean Kindle, quality patient care supervisor for St. Anthony Hospital, said last year’s flu season was light, but he still urged people to get their shots.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry, and make sure you don’t get the flu,” he said.

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Kyle Odegard can be reached at 1-800-522-0255 (ext. 1-248 after hours) or by e-mail at kodegard@eastoregonian.com.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.