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Sunnyvale Senior Center volunteer Delores Goodman, 74, had never had a flu shot until two years ago. She said getting one this year wasn't that big of a deal. The Mountain View resident just made an appointment with the Palo Alto Medical Group and walked in for her shot, bypassing lines that have plagued many United States cities due to a vaccine shortage.
The same can't be said for her friends in Sunnyvale—especially those with the Camino Medical Group—who may not be able to get shots until the middle or end of November.
According to Camino representative Cynthia Greaves, the medical group did not receive the 40,000 doses of flu vaccine ordered for this flu season.
All across the nation, medical centers are short of flu doses because the United Kingdom suspended vaccine maker Chiron's license for three months due to possible plant contamination. Chiron—maker of the vaccine Fluvirin—is one of two vaccine suppliers to the United States. Because of the suspension, Chiron was not able to produce its expected 46 to 48 million doses of Fluvirin, and this has caused widespread shortages in the vaccine.
The Sunnyvale Senior Center website originally announced it would give $15 flu shots to seniors Nov. 5. But because of the shortage, the vaccinations at the center have been canceled this year.
Camino Medical Center is offering a two-day "Flu Express" clinic to give out the limited supply of vaccines it received from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. It also has a small supply of pediatric doses from a maker other than the Chiron Corporation.
Vaccines will be given to high-risk Camino Medical patients only, on Nov. 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 301 Old San Francisco Road.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines "high risk" as anyone age 65 or older, infants 6 to 23 months old, pregnant women or anyone with a compromised immune system, such as those with asthma, heart disease, HIV/AIDS or other diseases. In addition, healthcare workers who care for patients or young children are included on the list.
Because of the shortage, the CDC has set a guideline that no healthy people from 2 through 64 years of age will be given the vaccine, to preserve the doses for high-risk patients.
Goodman said she was concerned about the shortage because she'd heard of seniors and other high-risk people waiting for hours—sometimes overnight—outside clinics to get vaccines.
"Something has to be done; it's doing more harm to have all these people standing outside in bad weather waiting for a shot," Goodman said.
At this point, Greaves said, it doesn't look like the medical group will even have enough for all the patients who should get immunized, but the group is doing its best to get a supply to match the demand.
"The shortage has hit us like it has hit everyone else, but we'll do our best to accommodate as many people as we can," Greaves said, "especially those who are particularly frail."
Camino Medical has posted a number of prevention guidelines on its website to help the community avoid the flu. In addition to frequent hand washing, it suggests disinfecting shared surfaces like keyboards, phones and doorknobs to prevent spreading any diseases. It also suggests eating well, drinking water, exercising and getting plenty of sleep.
Goodman said she thinks much of the hype surrounding the shortage is unnecessary, because even with a flu vaccine, people have to be vigilant against other illnesses. She said the flu is being focused on now because of the shortage.
"It's typical. You tell people they can't have something, and they're going to want it," she said.
For information on Camino Medical Group flu vaccines, visit its website at www.caminomedical.org or call its hotline at 408.523.3029.
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