Swine flu vaccine shots trickle into Stanislaus

Some health care providers in Stanislaus County have received the injectable form of H1N1 flu vaccine, although medical groups said they received small amounts and a large group didn't get any.

The initial supplies are likely to go first to people in high-priority groups, such as pregnant women, young children, health care workers or people with chronic health conditions.

The Family Health Care Medical Group in Modesto received a small amount of the vaccine Thursday, said Dr. Thomas Gray, who said another physician told of getting 100 doses. "It seems to be coming in small amounts," Gray said.

The 240-physician Sutter Gould Medical Foundation said Friday that it is still waiting, but expects to receive a shipment of the vaccine any day. It has ordered H1N1 flu shots for adults, as well as vaccine for pregnant women and young children that does not contain a mercury-laced preservative, spokesman Craig Baize said.

Local health care providers received the nasal vaccine more than three weeks ago.

Kaiser Permanente's Central Valley offices have been giving H1N1 flu shots to members who meet certain health criteria for the past week. They also have given the nasal mist to patients in high-risk groups.

"Kaiser Permanente has very limited supplies of both vaccines," a spokesman said in an e-mail Friday. Kaiser members were advised to call a hot line (800-573-5811) to see if they are eligible.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency still was waiting for H1N1 vaccine and doesn't expect to hold public vaccination clinics for weeks.

Merced County will begin offering H1N1 vaccine Tuesday, public health officials said.

Only certain groups of people will be eligible for the vaccine, including pregnant women, health care workers, young children and those with pre-existing health problems, officials said.

At least for now, all others will be turned away, county spokeswoman Katie Albertson said. "There are certain people who need to be first in line because they're at higher risk for complications," she said. "We're following (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines."

Albertson said the county's public health department got its first shipment of the vaccine — roughly 3,000 doses of the nasal spray and the injectable form — late Wednesday. The county anticipates more vaccine soon and expects to have enough by December to offer the vaccine to anyone who wants it.

The demands of manufacturing hundreds of millions of doses of swine flu vaccine for worldwide distribution caused delays in supplying seasonal flu vaccines throughout the United States. The shortage caused some local health care groups to cancel seasonal flu shot clinics and, on Friday, Stanislaus County announced it had closed its walk-in seasonal flu clinic at 820 Scenic Drive.

The immunization clinic will reopen when H1N1 vaccine is available, officials said.

The Merced Sun-Star contributed to this report. Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at kcarlson@modbee.com or 578-2321.