Flu Vaccines Running Short

The H1N1 flu vaccine is now available to more people in Louisiana than ever.

Thursday, new guidelines were put into place about who can receive the vaccine.

But area doctors are reporting shortages.

Doctors say they have never given out so many seasonal flu shots.

And when it comes to the H1N1 vaccine, people are eager to get their share.

Seasonal flu vaccines have been flying off the shelves everywhere.

Dr. Dean Stockstill practices in Monroe.

He says his clinic began giving the seasonal vaccine in late September with a supply of 500; now they're completely out.

And he says that goes for pretty much every doctor in town.

"We ordered our vaccine in July as most doctors do, and we just used it all up and now we try to get more and there's no more to get," said Stockstill.

Stockstill says some people are scared but he's still treating a high number of flu cases

"Actual severity of illness could have been much worse, but the volume, the number of people who have gotten it has been high so we've given a lot of vaccines, but we've also seen a lot of flu," said Stockstill.

The H1N1 vaccine is also growing in popularity as the government offers it to more groups of people.

"It has created a perfect storm, the publicity, a little bit of shortage of the vaccine people being worried about it and the fact that the flu has been in our community," said Stockstill.

Stockstill says he's already given half of his H1N1 supply.

Side effects to the h1N1 vaccine include high fever, dizziness and allergic reaction, but so far that hasn't slowed the number of doses going out.

"This year I’ve not seen the hesitancy we normally see when we have a new vaccine or even the regular vaccine, people are asking us about it," said Stockstill.

The government still regulates who can get the H1N1 vaccine.

"That's mostly pregnant women, people, people with lung conditions, people 24 and under," said Stockstill.

People may want the seasonal vaccine but for now Stockstill says they'll just have to wait.

NBC 10 news even spoke to Dr. Shelley Jones with the public health unit.

She tells us they're also out of the seasonal flu vaccine.

No word on exactly when more will be available.