The availability of vaccines for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu is a day-to-day thing for the Jackson County Health Department.
Shipments of the vaccines are sporadic and so small that the department can’t advertise them, said Beth Heath, county nurse manager.
“By the time we advertise it, it’s gone,” she said. “We’re getting so few doses at a time. People call and by word of mouth it’s gone.”
The department has given about 400 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine, 110 doses of the H1N1 shot and administered about 150 doses of the nasal mist vaccine for H1N1.
The department got a shipment of H1N1 — just 60 shots — last week, but for any flu vaccine, the advice is to call ahead to make sure it’s available.
Heath said the department hopes and expects to get more of all vaccines, but she said information as to when and how much is not yet available.
“I have heard we are going to start getting more shipments, but I don’t know if that means more doses at a time or if it will continue to be small shipments,” Heath said.
