Sutter VNA and Hospice may cancel 150 flu shot clinics

<p>Thousands of people in Sonoma County have lost an option for the seasonal flu vaccine because the manufacturer isn't delivering its order to a nonprofit health care agency.</p><p>Sutter VNA and Hospice, a community-based organization that specializes in home health-care visits, ordered 6,200 vaccines for Sonoma County customers from the manufacturer, Switzerland-based Novartis.</p><p>The seasonal flu vaccine is different than the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Vaccinations for that virus haven't begun yet in Sonoma County.</p><p>But on Wednesday, the group was notified that Novartis did not intend on fulfilling its contract with Sutter VNA and other groups that ordered the vaccine through the umbrella group Visiting Nurse Associations of America, a Sutter VNA spokeswoman said.</p><p>The move likely will cause the cancellation of 150 flu shot clinics that Sutter VNA and Hospice had expected to provide in Sonoma County this season, said, Maryellen Rota, director of the group's flu and wellness program.</p><p>Novartis apparently is delivering vaccines to larger customers, including Safeway stores. A call Tuesday afternoon to the Novartis media office wasn't returned.</p><p>Sutter VNA and Hospice typically holds several hundred flu shot clinics each year at nursing homes, senior citizen fairs, special health care events and businesses that request clinics at work sites.</p><p>The Sutter VNA and Hospice flu program is separate from wellness programs put on by Sutter Medical Center.</p><p>Nationwide, Sutter VNA and Hospice ordered 65,700 flu vaccines, Rota said, including 30,700 from Novartis.</p><p>Sutter VNA hasn't received an answer from Novartis about why they will not fulfill orders.</p><p>In Connecticut on Wednesday, the state's attorney general announced he was investigating Novartis' distribution practices.</p><p>Richard Blumenthal said in a press release that Novartis has said its production of the vaccine is down by 10 percent and yet the VNA umbrella group was told it would only receive about 25 percent of what it ordered.</p><p>“It's disappointing,” Rota said. “We are not-for-profit home health care agency. Any excess we do raise (above the cost of the vaccine) goes right back in the community for free care.”</p><p>Those seeking the seasonal flu vaccine are advised to contact their health care provider. Grocery stores and drug stores also may offer vaccinations for a cost of $20 or more.</p>