Swine flu vaccine hard to find, but more is on the way

By NICOLE GAUDIANO
Gannett Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — More than 22 million doses of swine flu vaccine were ready for shipment Tuesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s half of number federal officials had predicted would be available by now.

But as the H1N1 virus spreads and hospitals struggle to handle new victims, CDC officials say the vaccine is becoming more widely available.

“We’re getting to the level where it will become significantly easier to find and receive vaccine,” CDC director Thomas Frieden said Tuesday.

Question: When will the vaccine be available in my state?
Answer: It won’t be widely available until November, a month later than first thought. Some states are expecting delays to last until December.

Q: Where can I get it?
A: Check with your health care provider, state health department or Flu.gov, which has a flu shot locator for states.
Q: What’s the reason for the shortage?
A: Health officials have blamed production delays involving some of the five vaccine manufacturers. The CDC has said vaccine yields were lower than hoped. Flu vaccine is grown in chicken eggs, and yields can vary greatly.

Q: Who can get vaccinated first?
A: The CDC expects to eventually have enough vaccine for everyone who wants it. Until then, at the top of the priority list are pregnant health care workers and health care workers in areas of hospitals where exposure is most likely. Next come pregnant patients, young patients with serious chronic diseases, and patients ages 6 months to 4 years.

Nearly 85 percent of fatalities are among people under 65, CDC data shows. H1N1 is particularly dangerous for young people. That’s a huge switch from seasonal flu, in which only 10 percent of those who die are under 65.

Q: Will the vaccine be effective?
A: As of Tuesday, the virus had not shown any signs of mutating. Frieden said nothing suggests the virus won’t respond to the vaccine. He said the CDC has a “high degree of confidence” in the vaccine’s safety.

Q: Will November be too late to vaccinated?
A: The CDC expects the H1N1 flu season to last at least until spring, so November won’t be too late.
—
Contributing: Elizabeth Weise and Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY.
—
Contact Nicole Gaudiano at ngaudiano(AT)gannett.com.