Later-Than-Usual Flu Shots Slated for November

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.

“From my point of view, it’s under control,” 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 like pneumonia in people with a high risk of complications. These people may include those over 60, those with lowered immune systems, those suffering chronic diseases and pregnant women in their second or third trimester.

The problem, Wright said, is that the two vaccine manufacturers are taking longer than expected to culture 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 figure out which flu strains will hit in the fall, and the drug companies make the vaccine to target the three strains deemed most likely to spread.

The county offers the vaccine at senior centers, parks-and-recreation centers and hospitals.

Some doctors and health plans may receive doses of the vaccine earlier than the county, Wright said. The public may want to seek out these opportunities.

“Our message this year is when it starts being available, . . . take advantage of getting it at the earliest convenience,” Wright said.

Unprecedented demand last year led some Orange County clinics to exhaust flu-shot supplies earlier than expected.

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