MetroWest health boards are gearing up for the first round of free flu clinics, but most have fewer doses of vaccine on hand this year than last.

For people willing to pay for their influenza vaccine, however, there are more shots available than ever before, as the federal government continues to expand the age groups it recommends for vaccination.

A $2 million shortfall in the state Department of Public Health's budget resulted in the reduction to local boards of health.

Dr. Susan Lett, the medical director of the immunization program at the state DPH, said the gap isn't as big as people think, when considering the free vaccine that went unused last year and the vaccine available privately.

Last year the DPH ordered 740,000 doses, and 36,000 of those went unused. This year the DPH received 568,000 doses to distribute. The DPH provides about half the vaccine in the state, the rest is purchased privately by hospitals and physicians.

Lett said there are 20 million more doses available nationally than four years ago. This year, there are 10 million more doses available than last year.

Laurie Hulbig, public health nurse at the Natick Board of Health, said she received 1,370 doses of influenza vaccine - a 20 percent reduction from last year.

"We have enough for the high-risk people," she said. "We may not have enough for younger people."

The Natick Board of Health will hold its first flu clinic for those in the high-risk category from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Natick Elks at 95 Speen St. Last year, 700 people were vaccinated at the first clinic, she said.

The second clinic for Natick residents is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kennedy Senior Center at 117 E. Central St. in Natick.

Those considered high risk for influenza include people age 65 and older, people with chronic medical conditions, those who have compromised immune systems and pregnant women in their second or third trimester.

This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta suggested providers begin considering vaccinating healthy children 6 months to 23 months of age.

Several years ago, the CDC added adults 50 years of age and older to those who should be vaccinated.

The Holliston Board of Health will hold its first flu clinic Nov. 7 in the Holliston Senior Center at 150 Goulding St. People must call next week to make appointments.

Ann McCobb, director of the Holliston Health Department, said she received 320 doses, about the same as last year.

But Judi Murphy, an administrative assistant at the Hopkinton Board of Health, said she received only 220 of the 270 doses requested from the DPH.

"We really have to play it by ear," Murphy said.

Murphy said the first clinic for high-risk individuals is Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon in St. John's Church at 20 Church St.

Some boards of health are resorting to privately purchasing the vaccine to make up for the shortfall, said Maureen Sendrowski, preventive health coordinator at the Visiting Nurse Association Care Network Inc. in Southborough.

The VNA Care Network administers flu vaccine for health boards in Hudson, Westborough and Northborough, and holds many more clinics at corporate sites throughout the state.

If people can't get free shots in their town, they can visit their physician's office or pay approximately $20 for a shot at local stores offering clinics, Sendrowski said.

Stores like Brooks Pharmacy, Shaw's, Stop & Shop, K-Mart and Spag's contract with the VNA to offer flu shots to customers.

"If we can break even doing this, it's fine," Sendrowski said. "It's providing another option to people. It's convenient while people are out shopping."

Last year MetroWest Medical Center held flu clinics at the Natick Mall.

The flu season begins at the end of December and doesn't peak until February, said Lett, adding that January is not too late to get immunized.