By Laura Cook - Turlock Journal

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency did not receive any of the vaccine. Emanuel Medical Center had to cancel its annual flu shot clinic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued guidelines for health care providers. It is going to be given to those who need it most. This includes people who are 65 and older, babies between six and 23 months, and pregnant women. People with chronic medical conditions and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities take precedence. Health care workers who work directly with patients, out-of-home caregivers, and children on chronic aspirin therapy also have a priority.

“Every year poses a new challenge,” Nancy Bancroft, a public health nurse for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, said. “Fortunately, there is still vaccine available.”

Several local private physicians have not received their vaccine shipments either.

“(Patients) are upset and we are too. It’s upsetting because I pre-book every year. A year in advance,” Susie Enes, a nurse at Dr. Ronald Bjarnason’s office in Hilmar, said. “None of the facilities around here have received it either.”

Staff at Emanuel Medical Center are doing what they can to prepare for those who may get ill.

“The flu season is always a time where we see an increase in hospital admissions, especially high risk patients,” Pennie Rorex, Emanuel Medical Center spokeswoman, said.

The staff will adjust accordingly, she said. About 48 million doses of the vaccine intended for the United States were taken off the market because of contamination concerns in plants in England. Aventis-Pasteur, a vaccine producer in France, will be able to make another 2.6 million doses for the United States by the first week of January. This will give the U.S. a total of 60 million doses. Government officials are also negotiating with other countries to get more vaccine.Until then, all doctors can do is offer advice.

“If the shortage continues to be, I think it’s going to be more important than ever for people to be very cautious,” Rorex said.