MODESTO BEE
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

By KEN CARLSON
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: October 1, 2006, 04:28:54 AM PDT

Flu vaccine should be in plentiful supply, officials said, whether you get a shot at a doctor's office, supermarket, public clinic or a drive-up window.

Kaiser Permanente on Friday did report a delay in receiving supplies of mercury-free flu vaccine for pregnant women and young children.

The manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, has informed Kaiser that a mercury-free vaccine for children age 3 and younger won't be delivered before Kaiser begins its flu clinics Oct. 14 in Modesto, Manteca and Stockton. The vaccine is expected to arrive the next week.

Under a California law that took effect this year, almost all vaccines containing a mercury-based preservative are off-limits for children under 3 and pregnant women.

Kaiser spokeswoman Alix Sabin said that Kaiser has received the mercury-free flu vaccine for pregnant women. Kaiser is asking members with children 3 and younger to call a hot line before going to a flu clinic — to find out whether the proper vaccine has arrived. The numbers are 557-1090 (English) or 557-1010 (Spanish).

About 100 million doses of vaccine targeting three common flu strains should be available in the United States, officials said.

Some health providers said they would continue last year's policy of providing the vaccine for high-risk individuals first and healthy people later. Because of the projected supply, other providers said they will serve high-risk and healthy individuals as soon as their clinics open.

Maxim Health Systems, which runs private flu clinics in pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide, will start offering flu shots next week at stores in the Northern San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills. The clinics offer shots to adults and children ages 9 to 18.

Steve Wright, national director for Maxim, said the company has no restrictions on who can get a flu shot.

"We have enough vaccine to start the program," Wright said, noting the company receives shipments of vaccine on a weekly basis. "There should not be any shortage at any of the specific locations."

Maxim charges $25 for a flu shot and $40 for a pneumonia vaccination. The clinics accept Medicare Part B coverage; beneficiaries should bring their Medicare card and photo identification.

Major physician groups in the Northern San Joaquin Valley said flu vaccine will be available for their patients in mid-October.

In addition, the public health agencies of Stanislaus, Merced and Tuol-umne counties have scheduled flu shot clinics. San Joaquin County has not announced its clinic schedule.

High-risk people will get shots first

Craig Baize, spokesman for Sutter Gould Medical Foundation, said the medical group will offer vaccine to high-risk individuals first. They are being advised to make an appointment with their physician or attend a Sutter Gould flu shot clinic in October. Healthy patients will be served in November.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with the highest risk of serious complications from flu are adults age 50 and older, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical problems and residents in long-term care facilities. It also recommends flu shots for people who care for high-risk individuals.

The CDC has changed its recommendation for young children. The pediatric vaccine is recommended for children ages 6 months to 5 years.

Starting Oct. 14, Kaiser members can receive flu shots at the Modesto medical offices, including the new office complex on Dale Road in north Modesto, and at the Manteca and Stockton offices. Members can use a drive-through flu clinic at the Bangs Avenue office in Modesto.

The California law concerning mercury-free vaccine, authored by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, was intended to reduce the risk of developmental problems such as autism, which some health advocates believe can be traced to thimerosal, a mercury-laden preservative that was used in many vaccines.

Numerous scientific studies have found no link between thimerosal and rising cases of autism. Even so, federal health officials started asking drug makers in 1999 to remove it from childhood vaccines because some infants were being exposed to mercury levels exceeding accepted guidelines.

The preservative still is in flu vaccine, although manufacturers are making a mercury-free version.

The mercury-free flu vaccine comes in single, prefilled syringes; the vaccine in multidose vials contains the preservative.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency has flu clinics scheduled in October and November. The initial clinics in October are for adults 60 and older, pregnant women and adults with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma, said Nancy Bancroft, a public health nurse.

The county is following a state guideline that includes adults 60 and older in the high-risk category.

Fee might be waived for the poor

The county's flu clinics in November will be open to anyone, Bancroft said. The Health Services Agency has ordered 3,900 doses for children and 7,230 for adults, about 1,000 more than the doses in 2005.

The Health Services Agency is charging $20 per shot, up from $15 last year, though the fee might be waived for the poor.

"We will not deny any person a flu shot based on their inability to pay," Bancroft said. Medicare coverage is accepted at the county flu clinics.

Stanislaus County has yet to receive vaccine for children, but it should be available by the third week in October, Bancroft said.

The pediatric flu shots will be offered at the Health Services Agency's immunization clinics on Scenic Road in Modesto from Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays, 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.

Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at 578-2321 or kcarlson@modbee.com.