County - Less than quarter of flu shots ordered arrive

Cape Girardeau County health providers have received less than a quarter of the flu vaccinations ordered to meet the demand of the upcoming flu season. That fact combined with a nationwide shortage of vaccine has caused concern among area officials and physicians.

An informal countywide survey of local health care providers conducted by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Department Friday showed that about 23,000 to 24,000 doses of flu vaccine were ordered in the county. Of those, less than 4,000 had been received.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that almost half on the nation's flu vaccine supply will not be delivered at all this year. As a result, the Missouri Department of Health has issued a health alert urging the public to reserve the state's limited supply to those most in need as prescribed by the CDC.

The shortage is due to British-based manufacturer Chiron having its vaccination manufacturing license suspended due to quality control issues. The company was to make more than 46 million doses of vaccine for the United States, including 5,500 for the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Department.

On Oct. 1, the health department and similar agencies were informed there would be a delay on this year's shipment of vaccinations but that they would have it before the flu season starts in November. That hope was dashed when they received this latest news on Chiron just five days later. Currently the center has no flu vaccine at all and is waiting to hear from either the Missouri Department of Health or the CDC as to any future availability.

County health department director Charlotte Craig said the shortage is complicated by the fact that the vaccine takes four to six months to produce. She said that if the health department had any vaccinations it would try to use the guidelines recommended by the CDC, giving inoculations first to the elderly, young and chronically ill. Craig added that she personally would include essential community workers like police and firemen in that category.

Most agencies and practices she's talked to agree with carrying out the CDC recommendations, she said. However, since they are not requirements, turning down a patient who is determined to receive a vaccine may be difficult, she said.

Cross Trails Medical Center is in the same situation as the county health department, having unfilled orders on 800 Chiron vaccinations. Director Vicki Smith said that although there have been shortages in the past, they've always had enough for their patients. This year, Cross Trails is on the waiting list of another manufacturer. Smith said she's not sure if they'll get any vaccinations at all.

The same goes for smaller private practices, which are also feeling the pinch.

"We're trying to find other avenues, but all avenues have been cut," said office manager Judy DeClue of Jackson Family Clinic. She said she ordered 900 inoculations from Chiron that were never shipped.

DeClue was one of the fortunate who were able to find same vaccines through other suppliers. She received some 200 to 300 from another company, but they were used up in less than two days.

One alternative she's looked into is FluMist, a nasal-spray flu vaccine made by Medimmune that is considered an option for healthy individuals ages 5 to 49. But she said the nationwide vaccine shortage has made even that hard to come by.

Dr. Byron Glenn of Cape Urgent Care and Family Practice said the same is true for other anti-flu medications that are administered after the virus is contracted.

"There just don't seem to be any alternatives," Glenn said.

His practice doesn't order from Chiron, but Glenn said suppliers everywhere are spread thin trying to compensate for the absence of those imported vaccines. One of his suppliers told him they didn't know when they would be able to get him the vaccinations. The other told him for certain they wouldn't be able to.

"It's not going to be pleasant for the elderly or the small children that really need it," Glenn said.

In response to that concern, the Missouri Department of Health's health alert asks people to forego vaccination if they do not fall into certain priority groups. The group that should be vaccinated include children aged 6 to 23 months, adults 65 and over, persons aged 2 to 64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions, all women who will be pregnant during the flu season (November through April), residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, children 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy, health-care workers with direct patient care and out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children under six months of age.

Flu season usually hits its peak between January and March, and concerns mount as that time approaches. Glenn said the outlook is dim.

"It puts everyone at risk," he said of the shortage. "We're all just wondering if and when ..."

choward@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137