Parents who want their infants and toddlers to get a flu shot will probably have to wait until early next month.
Production problems are causing national shipments of the vaccine for children between 6 months and 35 months old to be delivered later than usual.
The state Health Department, which distributes flu vaccine for children, has received only about 15 percent of the 136,000 doses it ordered for children younger than 3, said Michelle Perrin, a manager in the state agency’s immunization program.
“We’re looking really good with the total number of doses, but it’s slowly and steadily coming in,” she said. “We know there’s a little bit of delay and waiting, but there really will be vaccine here.”
Another 62,000 doses are expected by early November, she said. The total order for vaccine for children 3 and younger is 15 percent larger than last year, she said.
Currently, the Snohomish Health District has only a few doses of the vaccine for infants and toddlers. However, new supplies of the pediatric vaccine are expected by the end of this month.
Parents can check in early November for the vaccine’s availability for their children, said Rita Mell, immunization clinic manager.
The Everett Clinic reports similar problems with a lack of vaccine for young children, although a partial shipment arrived Thursday.
“I think by Thanksgiving we’ll see plenty of vaccine for kids,” said Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, a physician who tracks influenza issues for the medical group.
“I would reassure parents,” he said. “There is no flu in town, and there is plenty of time to get vaccinated.”
Group Health Cooperative has only a small amount of pediatric vaccine but expects to have plenty when it begins offering the adult vaccine at its Everett Medical Center on Nov. 2, said spokesman Lex Reis.
Some Snohomish County clinics report temporary shortages of adult vaccine, too, while other clinics and pharmacies say they have adequate supplies. Anyone who wants the shot should call ahead to check on availability.
The Snohomish Health District, for example, is temporarily out of adult vaccine for the general public, although the countywide public health agency is continuing its flu shot program for people living in adult family homes.
“We’re still awaiting more shipments,” Mell said. Adults who want to get the shot from the health district should call back early next month.
At The Everett Clinic, the supply of adult vaccine dwindled to about 300 doses on Tuesday. However, another 5,000 doses arrived this week, and more deliveries of vaccine are scheduled over the next few weeks, Tu said.
The five area pharmacies at Haggen Food and Pharmacy and Top Food &Drug have a total of 600 doses of vaccine, with another shipment of 1,000 does expected early next month, said Cindy Widmaier, manager of pharmacy services.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
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