Health district says LV won't be affected by flu vaccine shortage

A manufacturer's delay in preparing flu vaccine won't affect Southern Nevada, local representatives in charge of administering the vaccine said Thursday.

Wyeth-Lederle, a subsidiary of American Home Products Corp. of New York City, is one of four companies that grows strains of flu virus used in producing the vaccine.

Company officials said Thursday that they will make between 30 and 40 percent less this year due to production problems.

The Clark County Health District administers approximately 26,000 flu shots a year. June Constantino, senior public-health nurse, said the center already has its supply of vaccine and will have enough for 30,000 doses this year.

"If there is a problem with getting vaccine, we definitely haven't heard about it," Constantino said Thursday. "We have what we asked for. The HMOs (health maintenance organizations) have theirs. The Health District did not order from Wyeth-Lederle."

Likewise, Mollen-Maxim Immunizations of Phoenix won't have any shortages. This company administers about 20,000 doses of the flu vaccine at satellite sites in local grocery stores and pharmacies throughout Clark County. The company also gets its vaccine from another supplier.

Alice Costello, supervisor of immunizations at the Health District, said if a shortage occurred, certain people would receive the vaccine first. These include people 65 years of age and older, those with chronic illnesses and people with immune-system problems -- such as HIV patients or those who recently underwent radiation treatment.

For those who didn't receive the vaccine, Costello said they should avoid large crowds, being around sick people, get plenty of rest and eat right.

The historical period to receive the flu vaccine is from Oct. 1 through Thanksgiving Day, said Dr. Art Mollen of Mollen-Maxim Immunizations. This will provide six months of protection. The flu season starts in December and goes through January.

"You'll receive 70 percent protection from the flu by getting a shot," Mollen said. "You won't get the flu from the shot. Less than 10 percent of people may have redness and swelling at the injection site. Then it will take two to four weeks to develop antibodies to be protected from the flu."

This year's vaccine is made from three strains of the flu virus. The strains are the A/Beijing, A/Sydney and B/Harbin.

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