| Flu shot scarcity is a major concern for many at | | | | in order to better understand which providers |
| risk individuals. During the past six years, the flu | | | | were most affected by flu shot scarcity. These |
| shot deficit was related to which brand of vaccine | | | | findings combined with a Gallup survey of the |
| a provider ordered and from which supplier. Some | | | | general public suggests that most people who |
| manufacturers had difficulty producing the vaccine | | | | wanted a flu vaccine in 2005 were able to get |
| in a timely manner and some manufacturers were | | | | one. Only 4% of the sample surveyed reported |
| able to produce limited supplies or none at all, | | | | that they were not vaccinated because of a flu |
| causing providers who had ordered from these | | | | shot deficit. It is unclear as to whether an overall |
| manufacturers to have a flu shot deficit in relation | | | | flu shot scarcity in the community caused those |
| to the number of people requesting shots. If your | | | | 4% to be unable to get vaccinated or if it was flu |
| primary care giver has a flu shot scarcity, you | | | | shot deficit at the primary caregiver's office. |
| may find that other providers in your area have | | | | Between 40 and 50% of all flu shot providers had |
| no flu shot deficit, all depending on which | | | | received at least 40% of their orders by late |
| manufacturers the flu shot providers ordered | | | | November 2005. Although the CDC seems to |
| from. | | | | downplay the 2005 flu shot deficit, it is obvious |
| In 2005, many flu shot providers who ordered | | | | that if a flu shot provider received less than half |
| the Chiron vaccine experienced a flu shot deficit. | | | | of the doses ordered and those orders were |
| This flu shot scarcity was caused by production | | | | based on expected demand for flu shot |
| problems at the Chiron facilities. Chiron was only | | | | vaccinations, that provider would have a flu shot |
| able to produce about half of the flu vaccines that | | | | deficit. Flu shot scarcity causes anger and |
| they originally expected, thus orders could not be | | | | frustration among the general public. It is easy to |
| filled and health care providers experienced a flu | | | | imagine how frustrating it was for health care |
| shot deficit. | | | | providers to deal with the frustration of more |
| In 2005, the Center for Disease Control and | | | | than half of their patients. |
| Prevention (CDC) surveyed health care providers | | | | |