Flu Shot Shortage - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Flu Shot Shortage

Flu vaccine supplies are running low in North Dakota.

According to the North Dakota Department of Health, nearly eleven-hundred cases of influenza have been confirmed in the state since September.

Public Health Nurse Ellie Bummer says the Crosby District Health clinic is down to only a supply for children under three.

The Williston office reports being out of adult flu shots and child vaccine appointments are booked through February.

Crosby and Williston fall into the Upper Missouri District Health Unit which serves Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie and Divide Counties --- most clinics under that service share the 'short' story.

The Minot area is facing a similar shortage.

Director of Nursing Penny Hamilton says there has been a pressure on the supply at the First District Health Unit in the last two days.

(Penny Hamilton, First District Health Director of Nursing) "Last year we had a very easy flu season, and this kind of caught people by surprise. Although, First District Health Unit does a fair number of flu vaccinations every year and our numbers were not down from last year."

The 2012-2013 influenza season in North Dakota is not far from years past --- 1,077 flu cases have been confirmed.

According to the North Dakota Department of Health, last year, there were a total of 1,487 cases with a peak in late February.

First District Health in Minot still has a 'healthy' supply of the flu mist vaccine.

Each office recommended calling ahead --- as vaccine supply companies are also running low.