Delay of flu vaccines

Some hospitals and health departments may not have as many doses available right now as they had hoped.

And the bulk of the vaccine may not arrive till mid-to-late October or early November.

Production problems are causing the delay. Flu vaccines have 2 strains of the A-type - the more aggressive form. However, cultivating the new A-type virus in this year's vaccine is taking longer than expected.

This summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out the first word on the sluggish production, urging delays in mass immunization events. But the reality is just now hitting.

Philadelphia's health department say the multidose vials of the Sanofi Pasteur vaccine it uses for children is delayed, though there are good supplies of the FluMist nasal vaccine, and some supplies of the single-dose injectable. Those are all quadrivalent, meaning they protect against 4 flu strains.

The adult vaccine, which is trivalent (3 strain) is also delayed. The health department hasn't yet posted a schedule for the adult clinics.

Camden County health department says its October 1 kickoff clinic in Pennsauken is on as scheduled.

Montgomery County says it has enough vaccine for the initial clinics, and hopes additional supplies will be in in time for later clinics.

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania says it has more than half of its expected supply. That's less than it expected, but hasn't affected efforts to vaccinate workers, or the scheduling of clinics.

Easton, Lehigh Valley, and St. Luke's hospitals are also experiencing delays. Easton is still awaiting 13,000 of the 14,000 doses which were ordered.

Supplies are also arriving at many medical practices behind schedule.

In addition to the virus-related production delays, 2 flu vaccine makers are also lagging, while corrections to FDA regulatory actions are completed.

One of them, Wyeth-Ayerst, of Marietta, Pa., says most of its vaccine will arrive in late November.

Drug store and urgent care clinics all report good supplies.

Bucks county flu clinic schedule - http://www.buckscounty.org/docs/health-department-documents/flu-clinic-flyer-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Camden County flu clinic schedule - http://www.camdencounty.com/health/seasonal-flu-shot-schedule'

Chester County flu vaccination information - http://www.chesco.org/index.aspx?NID=843