THE United States is without nearly half of its normal supply of flu vaccine this year, but Bermuda's full dose is here and available having been shipped out this week from ? the US.

Government's senior medical officer Dr. Brenda Davidson yesterday said she had feared for Bermuda's supply of the vaccine after contamination problems at Chiron's factory in England were revealed, where roughly 46 million doses of vaccine, destined for the US, had been prepared.

"We were expecting our flu vaccine to be shipped out on October 4, but it did not come because there was not enough room on the plane," Dr. Davidson said.

"The following day the US announced the problem with the supply from the UK, so I was quite concerned. But our full supply arrived, as planned, on October 11."

The vaccine, manufactured by Canadian company Aventis Pasteur, was flown out from Philadelphia.

Dr. Davidson said around 60 people had come in for flu shots yesterday and urged others in certain target groups to follow suit.

Vaccine is recommended for:

l People aged over 65.

l People of any age who require regular medical care for chronic health problems such as heart or lung conditions, asthma, kidney disease, sickle cell anaemia, immune system diseases, etc.

l People who live or work in rest homes.

l Essential public service workers (teachers, police officers, prison officers, customs officers, etc.)

l Health care workers and close contacts of those with chronic health problems.

l Regular travellers.

Dr. Davidson added: "For most people, flu is not generally a serious condition but may be unpleasant and debilitating.

"For some, however, flu can be quite dangerous because it may increase their risk of developing serious complications such as pneumonia.

"In the US 20-30,000 mostly elderly people die each year from complications of flu.

"In Bermuda, the peak time for contracting flu is January. In January and February of this year, over 500 cases of flu were reported to the Department of Health and more probably went unreported."

She added that flu vaccine was considered safe and its side effects mild.

Written permission from a physician is required for those with chronic health problems and for children under the age of two to acquire the vaccine.

People interested in getting vaccinated can go to Hamilton Health Centre (Mondays through Fridays, 8.30 a.m.-11.30 a.m.), St. George's Health Centre (Mondays 9-11 a.m.) or Somerset Health Centre (Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m.).

Flu vaccine is also available from most private physicians.