As seasonal flu vaccine supplies run short at local health care providers, forcing the cancellation of clinics at senior centers, schools, workplaces and other venues, the first shipments of vaccine for this season's other flu strain - swine flu, also called novel H1N1 - arrived in the region Tuesday.The Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut received only 810 of the 5,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine it had ordered, and its distributor said no more would be sent, according to Mary Lenzini, VNA president. The VNA had about a dozen clinics scheduled this month throughout the region that have since been canceled, she said.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut received only 810 of the 5,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine it had ordered, and its distributor said no more would be sent, according to Mary Lenzini, VNA president. The VNA had about a dozen clinics scheduled this month throughout the region that have since been canceled, she said. The VNA has placed an order with another distributor to receive more vaccine by the end of November or December, "but it's so iffy" whether that will be delivered, she said.

The VNA has placed an order with another distributor to receive more vaccine by the end of November or December, "but it's so iffy" whether that will be delivered, she said.In the meantime, Lenzini advised people who want a flu shot to contact their physician or go to one of the local stores that have them.

In the meantime, Lenzini advised people who want a flu shot to contact their physician or go to one of the local stores that have them. "I got mine at Target," said Lenzini. "My secretary got hers at Walmart."

"I got mine at Target," said Lenzini. "My secretary got hers at Walmart."Some local stores have already sold out of the vaccine and are awaiting new shipments.

Some local stores have already sold out of the vaccine and are awaiting new shipments.The 810 doses the VNA received have been used to vaccinate home-bound patients, direct-care staff and VNA school nurses who work with young children.

The 810 doses the VNA received have been used to vaccinate home-bound patients, direct-care staff and VNA school nurses who work with young children.Lenzini said the VNA placed its order in July and prepaid $40,000 and is now expecting a refund from the distributor.

Lenzini said the VNA placed its order in July and prepaid $40,000 and is now expecting a refund from the distributor. In the Norwich area, most of the seasonal flu shot clinics planned by Backus Home Health Care also had to be canceled after it received only 10 percent of the vaccine it had ordered, said Shawn Mawhiney, spokesman for the agency's parent organization, The William W. Backus Hospital.

In the Norwich area, most of the seasonal flu shot clinics planned by Backus Home Health Care also had to be canceled after it received only 10 percent of the vaccine it had ordered, said Shawn Mawhiney, spokesman for the agency's parent organization, The William W. Backus Hospital.Both Backus Hospital and Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London also received less seasonal vaccine than expected for its patient-care staff and patients, officials there said.

Both Backus Hospital and Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London also received less seasonal vaccine than expected for its patient-care staff and patients, officials there said. But while health agencies grapple with not having enough seasonal vaccine, the H1N1 vaccine has begun arriving and the first doses are being given.

But while health agencies grapple with not having enough seasonal vaccine, the H1N1 vaccine has begun arriving and the first doses are being given. Patrick McCormick, director of health at the Uncas Health District, said that agency received about 400 units of the nasal spray form of the vaccine and that some of the children at two day care centers in Norwich received it Tuesday. Parents with children under 6 months old were also offered the vaccine, he added. The vaccinations will continue today at those two centers, which he declined to name.

Patrick McCormick, director of health at the Uncas Health District, said that agency received about 400 units of the nasal spray form of the vaccine and that some of the children at two day care centers in Norwich received it Tuesday. Parents with children under 6 months old were also offered the vaccine, he added. The vaccinations will continue today at those two centers, which he declined to name. Over the next several days, as more supplies arrive, Uncas will provide vaccinations to children and parents at other child care centers in the region it serves.

Over the next several days, as more supplies arrive, Uncas will provide vaccinations to children and parents at other child care centers in the region it serves.Ledge Light Health District, which serves the shoreline area, received 700 doses of H1N1 vaccine Tuesday, said Kris Magnussen, communicable diseases prevention supervisor. It is developing a schedule to give the shots to priority groups in its region next week.

Ledge Light Health District, which serves the shoreline area, received 700 doses of H1N1 vaccine Tuesday, said Kris Magnussen, communicable diseases prevention supervisor. It is developing a schedule to give the shots to priority groups in its region next week. Lawrence & Memorial Hospital received about 1,500 doses of swine flu vaccine Tuesday, said Warren Roberts, L&M's pharmacy director. The vaccine arrived at L&M at about 10 a.m., and by that afternoon pharmacy workers had begun preparing the paperwork that employees getting the vaccine would have to sign.

Lawrence & Memorial Hospital received about 1,500 doses of swine flu vaccine Tuesday, said Warren Roberts, L&M's pharmacy director. The vaccine arrived at L&M at about 10 a.m., and by that afternoon pharmacy workers had begun preparing the paperwork that employees getting the vaccine would have to sign. While the virus is currently circulating widely in the southern and southwestern regions of the country, cases in Connecticut and the rest of New England have been relatively few thus far. But that could change as the season progresses.

While the virus is currently circulating widely in the southern and southwestern regions of the country, cases in Connecticut and the rest of New England have been relatively few thus far. But that could change as the season progresses. Over the next few days, pharmacy staff will be filling syringes by the dozen from the tiny, 10-dose vials containing the vaccine in preparation for giving the shots to hospital staff who work with patients. About 100 of the doses came in ready-to-use intranasal spray form. Rogers said starting next week, the hospital will begin inoculating 150 to 300 employees per day. The vaccinations are voluntary.

Over the next few days, pharmacy staff will be filling syringes by the dozen from the tiny, 10-dose vials containing the vaccine in preparation for giving the shots to hospital staff who work with patients. About 100 of the doses came in ready-to-use intranasal spray form. Rogers said starting next week, the hospital will begin inoculating 150 to 300 employees per day. The vaccinations are voluntary."We're recommending it for all our front-line workers and any workers with high-risk conditions," Rogers said. "Some folks are not quite sure about it, but I don't think it poses any more risk than the seasonal flu vaccine."

"We're recommending it for all our front-line workers and any workers with high-risk conditions," Rogers said. "Some folks are not quite sure about it, but I don't think it poses any more risk than the seasonal flu vaccine."Hospital pharmacy shelves are also stocked with about 4,000 doses of two anti-viral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, to distribute to the community in case there is a widespread outbreak.

Hospital pharmacy shelves are also stocked with about 4,000 doses of two anti-viral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, to distribute to the community in case there is a widespread outbreak."Hopefully, we'll be ready for whatever we're in for," Rogers said.

"Hopefully, we'll be ready for whatever we're in for," Rogers said.At Backus Hospital, a limited number of vaccinations are scheduled for today with the nasal spray form of the vaccine, Mawhiney said. Staff under age 50 who work directly with patients and workers in the hospital's child care center will be among the first to receive vaccine, he said.

At Backus Hospital, a limited number of vaccinations are scheduled for today with the nasal spray form of the vaccine, Mawhiney said. Staff under age 50 who work directly with patients and workers in the hospital's child care center will be among the first to receive vaccine, he said.The hospital received about 100 doses of the nasal vaccine Tuesday, and is expecting about 1,300 doses of the injectable form later this week.

The hospital received about 100 doses of the nasal vaccine Tuesday, and is expecting about 1,300 doses of the injectable form later this week. William Gerrish, spokesman for the state Department of Public Health, said initial shipments this week will be followed by more next week.

William Gerrish, spokesman for the state Department of Public Health, said initial shipments this week will be followed by more next week. "We ask members of the public who want to receive this vaccine to be patient as this program expands and more vaccine becomes available," he said in an e-mail message. "There will be enough vaccine available for anyone who wishes to receive it. Approximately 20,000 doses have come into the state, and another approximately 20,000 should be arriving this week (including injectables)."

"We ask members of the public who want to receive this vaccine to be patient as this program expands and more vaccine becomes available," he said in an e-mail message. "There will be enough vaccine available for anyone who wishes to receive it. Approximately 20,000 doses have come into the state, and another approximately 20,000 should be arriving this week (including injectables)."j.benson@theday.com

j.benson@theday.com

Flu info

• To find a location for a seasonal flu shot, visit http://ala.findaflushot.com.

• For general information on flu and on swine flu, visit www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch or www.backushospital.org/flu