Most of the flu clinics at California supermarkets and drugstores are expected to shut down in the next few days, leaving senior citizens and others at high risk of serious complications from the illness scrambling to find other ways to get vaccinated.
Federal officials, responding to the shortage of flu vaccine, announced Tuesday they had negotiated a deal to ship much of what is left of the medicine directly to doctors, hospitals and nursing homes that serve high-risk patients.
But Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, said there would not be enough for all of the more than 2 million seniors, pregnant women, young children and those with chronic health problems who are urged to be inoculated.
Fearing a shortage, people continued to swamp Southern California retailers still offering the shots Tuesday, lining up for up to five hours at some locations to get inoculated before the clinics closed.
Nearly 400 people converged on a Costco in Marina del Rey, with the line flowing out of the store into the parking lot area. Geri Horton, a 69-year-old manicurist, knew she had a long wait ahead of her and came prepared with a metal folding chair.
"I touch people's hands all day long, and it's important that I get a flu shot," she said. "People are sick or coming down with something, and I don't want to get sick and pass it on to others."
Dozens of people -- some in wheelchairs and walkers -- queued up at a Sav-on drugstore in Santa Monica. Laura Sharp, an 82-year-old retired actress, said it took her several attempts to find a place that offered the drug.
"I went to three doctors, and they didn't have the vaccine. They gave me a list of where I could go to get it," she said. "I've always gotten [a shot]. I don't want to take the chance of getting the flu."
Eilene Dribin was the last of 175 people to receive the shot at the crowded pharmacy. But her husband was behind her in line.
"It's not a very good feeling," said Dribin, 71. "My husband didn't get it."
Maxim Health Systems, which administers flu clinics at Costco, Longs, Walgreens and other retailers, said the clinics would run out of vaccine by Saturday and didn't know when more would be available.
The shortage comes after British regulators suspended the license of a pharmaceutical plant in Liverpool because of manufacturing problems and possible contamination. The plant, which makes the flu vaccine for Chiron Corp. of Emeryville, Calif., had expected to produce 46 million doses for the U.S. market.
