Shortage of flu vaccine hits home Shortage of flu vaccine hits home (October 22, 2004)

Elderly queue at drugstore in hopes of receiving a shot

By Huong C. Pham

Hundreds of elderly residents lined up at Rite Aid on Grant Road last week, hoping to be among the lucky 200 who would get their vaccinations.

When Los Altos Hills resident Jim Murray arrived, he joined a long line of people who were standing with pink applications in their hands. The line began at the front of the store and snaked its way to the back where people were receiving their shots.

"If I don't get the vaccination here, I'm going to have to get it somewhere else," Murray said.

Fliers posted at Rite Aid's doors informed customers that only 200 people would receive the vaccination. However, the process to receive a place in line started early in the morning, said store manager Joseph Zanella.

Genevieve Celestre, number 115 in line, said she gets her vaccination every year.

"I had to fill out an application," she said. "But I didn't have to do all of this last year."

Some flu vaccine clinics have been canceled because of a vaccine shortage that was announced earlier this month by Emeryville-based Chiron Corporation, one of two providers of the U.S. flu vaccine.

The shortage was caused by contamination at a British manufacturing plant, said Joy Alexiou, a Santa Clara County Health Department spokesperson.

"There won't be any new vaccine being produced since they have to guess what kind of flu strains may come around," she added.

People who are likely to catch the flu are those with chronic medical conditions, or people who are 65 years old and over, according to the American Lung Association.

Although the contagious disease can be life-threatening, Caitlin Kerk, a spokesperson for the local Lung Association chapter, said "I don't think this is something people should be worried about. Those who are at risk should get the vaccination and those who are not at risk should to take precaution."

E-mail: Huong C. Pham at hpham@mv-voice.com

Alexandria Rocha, a writer for the Palo Alto Weekly, sister paper of the Voice, contributed to this report.

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