SALEM — The vaccine for the H1N1 flu strain is not the only flu shot in high demand. A seasonal flu clinic at Ingram Senior Center was canceled yesterday due to a shortage of vaccine.
"It's on back order," the center's director, Patti Drelick, said of the seasonal vaccine.
The clinic has been rescheduled for Dec. 9. Drelick said the vendor that supplies the center can ship 200 doses of the vaccine by then.
The center had registered 260 seniors for the clinic scheduled yesterday, but Drelick said she suspects some of those people will have received their vaccinations elsewhere by next month. If not, they can get their flu shots at a later date from the center if there is not enough on Dec. 9. Seniors can still register for a flu shot at the senior center. They will be notified of when to come in for it, she said.
"They will get their shot from us sooner or later," she said. "We may be able to call them in a week and say, 'Yes, your appointment is on the ninth.'"
Last year, the center gave out 400 flu shots, Drelick said.
The clinic has been in November for the last several years, she said, because the medical community had warned that the vaccine does not have a long life.
The worst of flu season generally strikes New England in February, she said.
"There was a potential for people to have the shot almost wearing out by the time the season hit," she said.
So far, the only strain of flu circulating in the state is H1N1, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Seniors are not at a high risk for H1N1, but seasonal flu traditionally has been more dangerous for seniors than for younger people.
"Logistically and administratively, it's disappointing to have to do this twice," Drelick said. "And, obviously, it's disappointing to the seniors as well."
While notifying seniors about the new date for the clinic will be time-consuming, Drelick said she is not overly worried about the health effects of delaying the seasonal vaccine. Seasonal flu has not yet started in the state.
"Obviously, I would think the medical community isn't finding it a serious issue that (the seasonal vaccine) isn't out, or I would hope that people in higher places would be doing more," she said.
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