PA vaccine maker: Shots will arrive by November

Sanofi Pasteur produces more than 40 percent of the country’s 114 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine.

Some health providers in the region say they’re still waiting for their usual supply of the seasonal flu vaccine. This, despite the fact that the nation’s largest manufacturer of the flu vaccine is in northeastern Pennsylvania. Sanofi Pasteur in Swiftwater, Pa., says it is doing double duty to try to produce both the regular seasonal flu shot and the H1NI vaccine.

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Donna Cary is spokeswoman for Sanofi Pasteur.

Cary: So the seasonal vaccine is coming, it’s normally not all out until late-October so if your health care provider, your doctor, or hospital doesn’t have the vaccine now, it’s coming. We will be producing all that we’d planned to produce.

Cary says check back later. The company expects to complete its seasonal flu shipments by early November. The regular flu outbreak usually peaks after January, so health officials say you can get your flu shot in December and still be protected.