The Mountaineer

“Our supply was exhausted after two clinics.” — Jan Grove, Midway Medical Center

While the focus in recent months has been on the H1N1 flu virus and vaccine, those in search of the seasonal flu vaccine have come up short and unvaccinated.

Lois Snow, an 86-year-old Crabtree resident, takes care of herself and has no underlying medical conditions. Like in years past, Snow went to her doctor to get her seasonal flu vaccine, only to come away from her doctor visit without a shot.

Snow contacted the county health department, only to be told they were out of the vaccine as well. She was referred to local drug stores, which were also out of the vaccine.

“It irritated me so I called my Congressman,” Snow said. “I think this is just ridiculous. I know at my age I don’t qualify for the H1N1 vaccine, and I’m fine with that. But I’ve paid my taxes and tried to be a law-abiding citizen and I think it’s ridiculous that you can’t get a flu shot in America.”

Snow is not the only one searching for a seasonal flu vaccine.

Jan Grove, medical administrator of Midway Medical Center, said her office only received 500 doses of the 2,500 the center ordered.

“Our supply was exhausted after two clinics,” Grove said. “We’re on waiting lists everywhere. We’re just sick about it because we were told at the beginning of the year we would have enough. If we could get it, we would ship it here today.”

Companies that manufacture seasonal flu vaccines shifted gears in production once an H1N1 vaccine was developed.

“I think what happened is those that make the seasonal flu vaccine were contracted by the government for H1N1 vaccine … they shifted gears to make H1N1 before finishing all the seasonal flu vaccine production, from my understanding,” said Carmine Rocco, director of Haywood County Health Department. “About 50 to 60 percent (of the normal amount of seasonal flu vaccine) is what was produced.”

The health department held a seasonal flu vaccine clinic in September and had to end it early after vaccines supplies were depleted. Rocco said close to 2,500 doses were administered during that clinic. The health department does have close to 200 seasonal flu vaccines for children ages 6 months to 18 years and for pregnant women.

“We will take appointments for those two groups,” Rocco said. “What’s left came from the state and unfortunately, we are unable to get any more. We are trying to get more, but I doubt we’ll get any more from any other sources.”

The seasonal flu kills an average of 36,000 people in the United States each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 2,916 flu and pneumonia deaths between Aug. 30 and Oct. 24 of this year. That figure includes deaths from H1N1.

The H1N1 strain of the flu is the dominant form of the flu right now, Rocco said, but people should take precautions against all strains of the flu.

“Right now, prevention is recommended for both seasonal flu and H1N1,” he said.

Those prevention measures include washing hands frequently with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when washing is not convenient, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing and staying home when sick.

This is not the first time Haywood County has had trouble getting seasonal flu vaccines.

Rocco suggests those who want a seasonal flu vaccine to contact their medical provider about the pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia, which can be a complication of the flu.

As for H1N1 vaccines, Rocco said the health department is receiving a limited supply each week and those doses are going out to target groups, such as people under 24 years of age, pregnant women, health care workers and those 24 to 64 years of age with underlying health conditions.

Those who are not sure if they qualify for the H1N1 vaccine can call 452-6675 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The flu hotline is available at 356-1111.