November 2nd, 2009

Reports the Patriot-News:

For months, people were told to get a seasonal flu shot and one for swine flu, or H1N1, and it looks as if they got the message.

But now there are shortages, or at least delays, involving both vaccines. Many health care providers and state health officials hold out hope that a sufficient supply will arrive.

The federal government paid for the H1N1 vaccine. Pennsylvania, like most states, controls the supply.

Hundreds of doctors, retailers and health-related organizations have signed on to obtain and dispense H1N1 vaccine. But the vaccine is arriving more slowly than expected.

Of the vaccine delivered to Pennsylvania, most has gone to areas with the most H1N1 cases — the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions, as well as the north-central part of the state.

The vaccine also has been reserved for children and younger adults, who have the highest risk of becoming severely sick from H1N1.

Stacy Kriedeman of the state Department of Health said Pennsylvania distributed 964,100 doses as of Friday, and it expects more to arrive, although later than originally expected.

Meanwhile, area hospitals said supplies of both vaccines are in short supply. But in terms of the H1N1 vaccine, that could change shortly.

On Sunday, the White House said that the supply of vaccine for swine flu should catch up to demand within a week.

Read more at the Patriot.