Last Updated: October 30, 2004, 04:37:59 AM PDT

Yes, there's a nationwide shortage of flu vaccine this year, but there was more than enough of the pediatric variety for a Thursday clinic in Modesto.
The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency set up the clinic for children who are both high-risk and low-income.

An official said the county stood ready to inoculate 1,000 children during the four-hour clinic. More than halfway through, about 180 children had received shots. There was no line for service late in the afternoon.

Earlier, people pushing strollers and holding babies formed a short line.

Among those waiting was 13month-old Skye Dollahite. Her mother, Larissa Barton of Modesto, said her pediatrician's office, like many others, had none of the vaccine.

"They told me to come down here because they're giving it to babies," Barton said.

The same was true for Eva Susua, who brought her 1-year-old son, Gregory Isaac Susua.

"We tried to go to our primary care doctor and they referred us here," she said.

All four of Enedina Lopez's children, ages 1, 6, 12 and 14, have asthma — making them eligible for the shots.

The pediatric clinic was the first of two scheduled by the county, and more are planned, said Floreida Quiaoit, supervising public health nurse.

The clinics are for healthy children 6 to 23 months, and children 6 months to 18 years with chronic health conditions, including asthma.

This year marks the first time that the county has held flu shot clinics for children.

What prompted the clinics was a first-time recommendation from the federal government to give flu shots for healthy children 6 to 23 months. Recent studies show that children under 2 years, even healthy children, are more likely than older children to be hospitalized with serious complications if they get the flu.

The manufacturing problem that cut the United States' vaccine supply in half did not affect the pediatric stock because vaccine supplier Chiron's problem plant in Britain did not make a pediatric vaccine.

"More pediatricians have it available than adult physicians, I believe," said Dr. Ron Goldman of Valley Oak Pediatric Associates in Modesto.

Valley Oak ordered more than 1,000 doses and received all of the vaccine, Goldman said. "We do have quite a bit and we suspect we'll be giving some back to the county," he added.

He said pediatricians should have received everything they ordered — if they ordered early enough.

Pediatric shot works for adults

But there is something else that can affect the pediatric supply: While children cannot be given adult flu shots, the pediatric vaccine can be given to adults.

Children and Family Health Care in Merced gave much of its pediatric vaccine to seniors, said Chasity Melgoza, an office manager. That left 40 doses of the pediatric formula, she said.

She said the Children and Family Health Care office doesn't get many requests for flu shots for infants; however, older children with chronic health conditions could get shorted, she said.

A second pediatric clinic is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the Stanislaus County Public Health Department, 820 Scenic Drive, Modesto. The clinic is for children who are both high-risk and low-income.

Officials said the county is planning more pediatric flu shot clinics, plus five general clinics for people who are at high risk. For information on dates, times and locations, call the county's flu clinic hot line at 558-8872. The hot line has recordings in English and Spanish.

Bee staff writer Melanie Turner can be reached at 578-2366 or mturner@modbee.com.