Production Problems to Delay Flu Shots

Because of a vaccine production problem, flu shots will not be available nationally until November, about a month later than usual, an official with the Orange County Health Care Agency said.

That should still allow people time to receive the vaccine before flu season starts, typically in December at the earliest, said Mary Wright, the agency’s immunity project coordinator.

The Health Care Agency expects to deliver 100,000 free doses at 125 clinics for at-risk patients. Influenza may cause more debilitating illnesses, such as pneumonia, in people with a high risk of complications. Among them are people over 60, those with lowered immune systems or chronic diseases and pregnant women in their second or third trimester.

The problem, Wright said, is that the two manufacturers are taking longer than expected to grow this year’s vaccine. The same vaccine cannot continue to be used because the virus changes each year. Health and pharmaceutical experts gather each January to determine which flu strains will hit in the fall, and the drug companies make the vaccine to target the three deemed most likely to spread.

This year’s flu season is not expected to be any more severe than usual, Wright said.