More flu vaccine than ever before has been made for the USA.  Yet some local pharmacies have run out, especially of High Dose.  However I prefer Flu Cel Vax, fewer off target mutations  My pharmacist could not give it to me yesterday,  I must now have an appointment.  He said, "Don't wait, it is selling out every other day."  Then they get more (CVS.)  At least, so far.  But a run on it appears to be starting.  A line of people behind me, also told no.  Tried Walmart.  Same thing, "Tommorrow."  All High Dose gone, regular only.  Procrastination may not be smart this year.  Mine is now confirmed by CVS for 11 AM today.

            Health Care Providers Are Not Expecting A Flu Vaccine Shortage        

                                                      By         Jen Chung  and         Andy Mai, WNYC                                             

      Oct. 9, 2020 3:09 p.m.  

             •              29 Comments                                               

 

As health care providers have been strongly recommending flu shots for all in order to fend off a "twindemic," but there have been reports around the world of flu vaccine shortages. However, experts say there is unlikely to be a real shortage.

Dr. David Battinelli, Northwell Health's Chief Medical Officer, said in an interview with Gothamist/WNYC, "We have no shortage. Every year we are prepared... we hope that more people opt for the vaccine."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported there is no shortage. 

Mary Zimmerman, the immunization program manager for a Michigan health provider, told a Michigan TV network earlier this month that "two of the biggest manufacturers of the flu vaccine said production was ramped up this year so they have made at least 20% more than they have any other season." Regarding the so-called shortage, Zimmerman believes "there are some shipping delays... due to the hurricane and others due to the increased demand on shipping with UPS and FedEx."

 

The urgency for people to get their flu shots is because flu symptoms—fever, chills, aches, sore throat—are similar to those of the coronavirus. Battinelli pointed out if someone who hasn't gotten a flu vaccine gets sick, "We're going to some increased difficulty in determining whether the illness is the flu" or COVID-19.

"The more people who receive the flu vaccine, the less people will become ill," Battinelli explained. Even if the flu vaccine is never 100% effective, due to how the flu mutates, "you tend to have a much milder course if you've been vaccinated."

He believes that along with the flu vaccine and "careful adherence" to current behavior guidelines—social distancing, mask-wearing, hand hygiene—should limit both the flu and COVID-19 transmission. "The main thing is that we don't want people to believe that because they're wearing a mask, they don't need a vaccine."

Australia and New Zealand are among the Southern Hemisphere countries that have had a mild flu season, in part because their populations have been following pandemic precautions, as well as having high vaccination rates.

Dr. William Schaffner of the NFID said in an interview with Healthline that the U.S. might not follow Australia's and New Zealand's flu season trend. "Our population is very divided into two groups: the really careful people and the carefree, careless people,” he said. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases says that only 59% of Americans surveyed said they would get a flu vaccine.

We had the same thing happen here at the start of winter. Interestingly, in the news yesterday, they said that the Covid 19 restrictions and the huge uptake of the flu vaccine has meant that NZ has crushed the seasonal flu this year with only 6 reported cases in the whole country!!!! That's incredible.

Maybe because you all did such a good job following science and avoiding the Covid Virus, a happy bonus was you all avoided the flu as well.

Most shops here now have Plexiglas screens,Even on buses..... hand sanitizer everywhere....