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Flu shot demand on the rise in Michigan

Young boy at the doctor healthy

This story appeared in MLive. Read the full story here.

Michigan is seeing heightened demand for influenza vaccinations as local health experts urge residents to get their shot to ease potential strain on our health systems with flu season stacked atop the coronavirus pandemic.

As of early October, the state health department reported 506,234 flu doses being administered this flu season. That’s a 30.8% increase from the 386,984 doses reported at the same time in 2019.

Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said demand for flu shots, including the high dose vaccine for individuals over age 65, has been “very high” so far this season. The state has heard about spot shortages for certain vaccines due to the demand, but “more is on the way” for those areas, while other regions have confirmed they have plenty in stock.

Beyond the standard flu vaccine each year, individuals 65 and older can get one of two vaccines designed specifically for the older age group. The high dose flu vaccine and adjuvanted flu vaccine have reportedly resulted in fewer influenza cases and significantly higher immune responses than the standard vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When Pam Grassmick, 64, and her 68-year-old husband inquired with their local health department about the high dose flu vaccine, however, they were told there was not enough of the higher dose vaccine available. Instead, the Charlevoix County couple got the basic strength vaccine Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan didn’t respond to inquiries about the reported shortage. At the state level, Sutfin has heard of spot shortages, including in West Michigan, but she said it isn’t relegated to any certain area of the state and more supplies are on the way.

Companies that manufacture the high dose flu vaccines are seeing heightened demand across the country, according to data provided by MDHHS.

Nationwide, the vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur has shipped more than 14 million high dose flu shots thus far, which is more than half of what they intend to manufacture for this season. According to MDHHS, Sanofi has stated it is well ahead of what it shipped by this time last year.

In Ingham County, Health Officer Linda Vail said the high dose vaccines manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur have been a little slower to come in this year. However, her department had some in stock as of last week and expected to get more in this week.

“Usually, by this time, I have all my flu (vaccines) that I have ordered in stock, but this year’s is still gradually coming in,” Vail wrote in a message passed along from her county’s immunization supervisor. “No shortages that I am aware of at this point.”

A second manufacturer of the high dose flu vaccine, Seqirus, has shipped more than 8.4 million of the 11.8 million doses they intend to ship this year. The manufacturer has already shipped more than the 7.4 million doses from the 2019 flu season.

Getting a flu vaccine could be especially important this season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Michigan health officials are worried about the potential strain that a bad flu season, combined with COVID-19, could have on the state’s health care system.

Michigan’s statewide “Facing the Flu Together” campaign aims to get at least 4.2 million residents to get this year’s flu vaccine. That’s a 33% increase from last year’s total.

“It’s more important than ever for Michiganders everywhere to get your flu vaccine,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Preventing the flu will help us save lives and preserve the health care resources we need to continue fighting COVID-19.

“Every flu-related hospitalization we see this season will put an additional strain on Michigan’s economy and our health care systems and hospitals. Our hospitals are still reeling from the spring COVID-19 hospitalizations and are working to prepare for a potential second wave of the virus. I encourage everyone to get their flu vaccine, and tell your friends and family to do the same.”

Vaccination is especially important for people 65 years old and older because they are at a higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu, according to the CDC. A flu vaccine protects against the flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season, and immunity wanes over a year, making annual vaccination necessary to reduce risk.

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You’ve got questions. That’s a good thing.

As parents, determining how best to protect our children can be overwhelming and confusing. We’re here to help.

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