Swine Flu Shot Supply Low, Demand Low

While some wait in long lines to get vaccinated - some agencies say people still aren't taking it seriously enough.

MILWAUKEE - The numbers don't lie. City health officials are seeing fewer swine flu cases right now and fewer people wanting swine flu shots than expected.

"Demand hasn't been anywhere near what we initially expected," said Paul Biedrzycki at the Milwaukee Health Department.

He wants more vaccines from the state but he also wants more people to want the shot.

"We certainly expected a lot more wanting the vaccine and that has not been the case," said Biedrzycki.

By mid November, the city expected 50,000 swine flu doses but it has received fewer than half. It also wanted to vaccinate 30 to 40 percent of the city but so far, only 3 percent have shown up at clinics.

Charles Benson asked: Would it be fair to say swine flu didn't live up to its hype?

"In someone ways yes," said Biedrzycki "but again this narrative hasn't been fully written."

He believes parent worries about the vaccine and the relatively mild nature of cases are keeping people away from clinics but that maybe a false sense of security especially as the holidays as approach.

"Pandemics generally revisit communities in 2, 3, 4 waves of infection separated by 8 to 12 weeks," Biedrzycki explained.

Keep in mind more people may be choosing to get their shots at the doctor's office rather than stand in line at clinic.

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