Unlike other states, and even metro Atlanta, the supply of vaccine against swine flu is coming to Troup County in drips and drops.

“I don’t know why we’re not getting the supply like some others are,” said Martha Allred, director of human resources for Emory Clark-Holder Clinic in LaGrange.

The clinic, which ordered its swine flu vaccine directly from the state because of its large number, still is waiting to get the supply.

“We’re getting quite a few inquiries,” Allred said. “We’re really at the mercy of the state.”

Meanwhile, District Four Health Services, which oversees health departments in this region, including Troup County, is managing to get some vaccine, albeit in small shipments.

“We are not doing mass clinics because we do not have a large enough supply of vaccine on hand anywhere for that,” said Hayla Hall, risk communicator and spokeswoman for the district. “Some of the metro Atlanta counties are receiving shipments of vaccine in the thousands. We are getting only 200 to 400 doses in a shipment and that is exhausted in a day or two. We cannot make a decision to hold a mass clinic until vaccine supply improves.”

The vaccine is being given only to those at high risk for swine flu, such as pregnant women. This has created a lot of concern from elderly residents, who usually are first in line for the regular, seasonal flu shot.

“We are only vaccinating high-risk groups right now because vaccine is in such a limited supply,” Hall said. “But high risk covers a lot of people. I’m getting the most calls and complaints from people over the age of 65 because they are not in the high risk category. We are following the priorities set by the commissioner of the Department of Community Health and the Centers for Disease Control. It is imperative that we vaccinate those at highest risk of severe complications before offering it to the general public. But by vaccinating them it provides some protection to the rest of us because they are not likely to spread the virus further in the community.”

Some private clinics in the area have received the swine flu shot, but don’t want to publicize it through District Four because the supply is for their own clients.

To find out if a doctor has the swine flu vaccine on hand, it’s best to contact the individual health-care provider.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.