Rosie Blacketer/Herald-Chronicle
Carolyn Rosetta receives a flu shot Monday in Osage City from Washburn University student nurse Cami Golden. Rosetta was one of 900 people served from the Osage County Health Department’s ration before it ran out.

Wayne White | Managing Editor

OSAGE CITY—Who hasn’t heard of the 2009 H1N1 virus? And that’s part of the problem.

Anne Gray, director of the Osage County Health Department, announced Monday the department is out of seasonal flu vaccines and all planned flu shot clinics around the county are now cancelled.

Gray said the health department received 900 doses on Oct. 1 and began administering them the next day.

“Here it is the 12th and we’re out,” Gray said.

She said the health department ordered 100 more doses than last year, in anticipation of increased public awareness about the flu and the H1N1 flu virus.

“We usually have enough to go way into November,” Gray said.

The last of the department’s vaccine disappeared Monday with 110 shots given at the Osage County Senior Center, and 130 during an in-service training at Osage City High School for teachers and para-educators from across the county.

Gray said she believes publicity about the H1N1 virus caused the increased demand for seasonal flu shots.

“It made them aware of getting the flu vaccine. I think that the H1N1 has been talked about so much, the public concern has increased.”

She said suppliers had been contacted to place another order, but the health department was turned down.

“When our nurses called Friday, we were told we couldn’t order any more.”

Gray said although the health department had tried to plan ahead, the demand was unexpected.

“Unfortunately when we order, it is in the spring for the following year,” she said. “Last spring we didn’t know about H1N1 yet.”

Gray said she had fielded complaints about the county health department giving vaccinations to people who lived outside the county. She noted the health department was a public entity and could not turn people away just because they did not live in the county.

She said she had been notified that supplies were also low or nonexistent in Lyon, Franklin and Shawnee counties.

“We’ve got a lot of unhappy people,” she said of those who were turned away. “I’m glad that 900 people made the choice to get vaccinated, I just wish we had more to give.”

Mike Heideman, public information officer for Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), said Tuesday that vaccine suppliers had warned of delays in delivery of vaccine, but a shortage had not been expected because the companies had increased supply this year.

“There was going to be more this year than any year,” Heideman said. “But the demand for seasonal flu vaccine has been so great that we’re now at a point where we’re exceeding the supply. That’ll be true not only in Osage County but in other parts of the state and across the country as well,” he said.

Due to increased awareness about the H1N1 flu, people also were getting vaccinated earlier in the year than in previous years, he said.

KDHE and the Osage County Health Department are still encouraging people to get flu shots if they can find them.

Suggested locations are medical clinics, doctor’s offices, and larger retail drug stores and grocery stores. Some larger employers also offer flu shots to employees, Heideman said.

“It’s possible that some clinics still have vaccinations available,” Heideman said. “With pre-booking, it’s possible. A person seeking the vaccine will have to call ahead and see for themselves.”

He said KDHE is administering a federal program that provides flu shots to children of income eligible families that don’t have insurance, but the program could also experience a shortage.

“We’re in that same boat,” he said. “We’ve had an order we’ve pre-booked. We’ll [use] that order proportionally depending on the vaccine we have available right now.”

Gray said the county health department also offers a similar program, but it is unknown if vaccinations will be available for it.

“We don’t have any more for children, and don’t know if we are going to get any more for that.”

The state and county health departments are warning that the H1N1 vaccine, with expected deliveries to begin in the next few weeks, will not control seasonal flu virus, and vice versa.

“This (seasonal flu) vaccine doesn’t have effect on H1N1,” Gray said.

She said that as H1N1 vaccine arrives, priority will be given to pregnant women; children from 6 months to 4 years old; care givers of infants less than 6 months old; and children with underlying medical conditions up to age 9.

“Another area is healthcare workers that have direct patient care,” Gray said. She noted the county health department recently changed its hours to be open until 6:30 p.m. Mondays to provide increased public availability.

“Shipments will hopefully come weekly, and the further we get into it, the quantity is supposed to increase, and the criteria (for recipients) will broaden,” she said.

Whether vaccinated or not, people are urged to take steps to reduce the spread of flu viruses. Hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick are advised. Instructions specific to those who have contracted H1N1 including staying home until after a fever breaks without use of fever reducing medications.

“Drink plenty of fluids, get good rest and eat healthy foods,” Gray advises.

Flu shot clinics that are now cancelled include Oct. 15 clinics at Scranton and Burlingame; Oct. 20 at Melvern; and Oct. 22 at Overbrook.