Flu season is barely here, but a nationwide shortage of influenza vaccine means North Olympic Peninsula health authorities are re-evaluating their supply — and their public clinics.
On Wednesday — the day after federal health officials announced a major interruption in the nation’s vaccine supply — a long line of people snaked through the QFC market in Sequim where the store was offering flu shots.
Other grocery stores and agencies around Clallam notified the county Department of Health and Human Services that they can’t hold their planned flu shot clinics.
The health department temporarily pulled its online list of upcoming clinics until it knows when and how much vaccine will be available.
“It’s affecting the county significantly, but how significantly, it’s too early to tell,” said Kathryn McDaniel, health services program director for Health and Human Services.
British regulators on Tuesday unexpectedly shut down a major flu-shot supplier, citing manufacturing problems at the Chiron Corp. facility in England where roughly 46 million doses destined for the United States had been made.
That means only about 54 million flu shots will be available this year from a competing firm.
Priority recipients
The Washington State Department of Health is urging healthcare providers to prioritize their flu shots for patients most at risk, including young children and the elderly.
At Olympic Medical Center, one of the county’s largest employers where flu vaccines are offered to the staff, spokeswoman Rhonda LoPresti said the hospital will be prioritizing its supply of vaccine for employees with the highest amount of patient contact.
It’s still early for flu season — it typically hits the state full-stride in January and continues into March, though it was seen in the state by mid-November last year.
McDaniel said she knows of no cases of flu in Clallam County so far this year.
