By Dennis Box
The Courier-Herald
A flu vaccine shortage sent local and federal health officials scrambling last week when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 50 percent of the supplies were contaminated and would not be available.
Initially, officials expected an adequate supply - if not a surplus - of the vaccine as the traditional October flu season began.
The supply estimate suddenly changed when the British government suspended the license of the Chiron Corp., based in Liverpool, which produced Fluviron.
The news broke Oct. 6.
"This is a huge problem," said Federico Cruz-Uribe, director of health for the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Board. "Hospitals don't have any. It's tough to figure out exactly what do. We have to help the high-risk people first."
Robin Peterson, coordinator for Good Samaritan Mobile Health Services, stated her service answered more than 150 calls the day the news broke.
Mobile Health Services provides vaccinations for senior centers across Pierce County, including Bonney Lake, and they provide immunizations for the public in local business centers and parking lots.
"Generally we average 3,000 flu vaccination for people over 65 and more than 6,000 overall," Peterson said. "Right now we are getting information in day-by-day. We don't know when the vaccine will get here, but we are continuing our regular schedule."
The service will be at the Bonney Lake Senior Center 10 a.m. to noon Thursday and in the Safeway parking lot from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
All regular services will be available including, blood pressure checks, blood tests, cholesterol screenings and other types of childhood and adult immunizations.
Two companies produce the injectable flu vaccine for the United States, Chiron and Aventis Pasteur, based in Bridgewater, N.J.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 30 million doses of the Aventis flu vaccine, Fluzone, have been distributed to health care facilities across America. A total of 54 million doses of Fluzone will be released this year, which is about half the expected vaccines.
The CDC reported about 1.1 million doses of the nasal mist type of vaccine manufactured by MedImmune called Flumist, will also be available.
CDC officials reported Chiron's Fluviron had been contaminated with the Serratia bacteria, a human pathogen which may cause urinary tract infections and pneumonia.
Christine Pearson, CDC spokeswoman, stated representatives from the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are in England investigating the Chiron contamination problem.
Cuz-Uribe noted the Health Department ordered its doses from Aventis and the vaccines are on the way.
"The health department doses can only be used for high risk children," Cruz-Uribe said. "For high-risk adults we've relied on the public health system."
The CDC is requesting only the people with the highest risk get vaccinations, all healthy adults and children are asked to skip their flu shot at least temporarily.
CDC statistics report 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population will get the flu every year, 200,000 will be hospitalized and approximately 36,000 will die.
Good Samaritan Mobile Health Services is in Bonney Lake the second Thursday of each month. Their hotline for updated vaccination information is 253-697-3930.
The CDC flu vaccine priority guidelines are as follows:
€ All children aged 6 to 23 months
€ Adults older than 65
€ People between the ages of 2 and 64 who have underlying chronic medical conditions
€ All women who will be pregnant during influenza season
€ Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
€ Children 6 months to 18 years old who are on chronic aspirin therapy
€ Healthcare workers with direct patient care
€ Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children under 6 months old
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department suggest the following practices to avoid contacting the flu
€ Wash hands often throughout the day, particularly before eating, prior to rubbing face, nose or eyes and after using the toilet. Wash hands frequently if you have symptoms of cold, flu or other illnesses.
€ Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands afterwards. If requested, wear a face mask in a doctor's or clinic's waiting room.
€ Stay away from the office and from other people if coughing or sneezing.
€ See a medical provider if exhibiting symptoms of a cold or fever. Follow instructions, particularly about taking medicines, drinking fluids and getting plenty of rest.
€ Wash hands if touching anyone who is sneezing or coughing or has other symptoms of flu. Don't share utensils, glasses or cups, cigarettes, towels, toys or anything else that could be contaminated with germs.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.
