Vaccine Shortages.......

Waiting for the swine flu vaccine? Well, you might have to wait a bit longer for a seasonal flu shot, too. The delay and cutbacks have already forced some doctor's offices to turn away patients and others to cancel clinics around the country. The three companies account for about 100 million of the nation's expected 114 million doses. About 70 million of the expected 114 million doses already have been delivered. Health care providers say early demand appears to be higher this year, because of public attention to the swine flu pandemic. October is the traditional time when seasonal flu vaccine clinics open. Outbreaks can happen earlier, but the flu usually peaks in January or later. Five manufacturers are scrambling to crank out plenty of vaccine against swine flu — what scientists call the 2009 H1N1 strain — and the first doses should be given early next week.

A patient is given a shot during trials of an H1N1 vaccine in August 2009. Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis has begun delivering a first batch of swine flu shots to the United States.