Because shipments of seasonal influenza vaccine will arrive on the Vineyard later than expected, the annual Islandwide innoculation will be postponed until the second week of November.
Seasonal flu innoculation is now scheduled to take place at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School on Nov. 11.
The group that runs the annual flu clinic — which includes town health agents, emergency medical services, public safety officials and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) — had initially planned to move the date up several weeks so as not to conflict with the H1N1 vaccinations.
Manufacturers reportedly are having problems producing enough seasonal flu vaccine, largely because many of the same companies are busy producing H1N1 vaccine as well.
Ron J. McLaren, health director for the tribe, said health officials have done their best to respond to information from the state and federal government which changes almost daily. “We have moved the date around several times. We were going to hold [the flu clinic] early, then we had to push it back, now we’re back where we started [on Nov. 11],” he said.
Massachusetts is one of the biggest government purchasers of flu vaccine in the country.
Mr. McLaren said there will be plenty of seasonal flu vaccine in November. He said health officials have yet to schedule the H1N1 vaccination, although they are eyeing a date in late November or early December.
He warned people not to confuse the two vaccinations.
“A vaccination for the seasonal flu will not inoculate you from the H1N1 virus and vice versa . . . people need to understand that,” Mr. McLaren said.
Another change in this year’s seasonal flu clinic: as part of a federal emergency preparedness directive, Islanders will need to first visit one of two staging areas at either the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury or Waban Park in Oak Bluffs before they are cleared to go to the regional high school for their vaccination.
This will allow public safety officials to monitor and control traffic during the vaccination, and will also serve as an informal practice drill for pandemic preparedness.
A preparedness plan is required by the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
More information about logistics will be released in advance of the flu clinics.
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