A. Experts are calling this year's problem with the flu vaccine supply a delay and not really a flu shot shortage.
The reason for the flu shot delays is that Sanofi pasteur, the company that makes the Fluzone flu shot, had a problem in making their flu shot this year. Since Fluzone is the only flu shot that can be given to children under age 3 years of age, it is causing a big problem for most pediatricians.
Now although Fluzone is the only flu shot that can be given to kids 3 and younger, it can also be given to children over age 4, and in most years, Fluzone is the only flu shot that pediatricians order. That is likely why your pediatrician doesn't have a flu shot for your 4 year old with asthma yet.
So while there are flu shots available for older kids right now, it is basically a question of who has them, which depends on where your pediatrician's office ordered their flu shots from. If in addition to Fluzone, your pediatrician ordered an additional supply of another flu shot, then they might have a flu shot for your 4 year old right now. Otherwise you likely will have to wait until they get their supply of Fluzone or try to find a flu shot somewhere else.
The good news is that Sanofi pasteur has stated that they should start shipping flu shots in early November, which still gives most kids time to get their flu shot before the peak of flu season when your child is most likely to get sick with the flu.
Our own office just got a notice that we should get our flu shots sometime between November 11th and the 21th, so we are hopeful that we can start immunizing kids soon.
