H1N1 Vaccine Shortages Create Panic, Worry

Oct. 26, 2009— -- Two days after the H1N1 flu was declared a national emergency, vaccine shortages around the country are creating anxiety and concern.

In Baltimore, resident Ivette Brown expressed her frustration with the system.

"We've been turned away. We were told they don't have anything," Brown told ABC News. "My children's health is at stake."

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said the vaccine is coming off the production lines slower than the administration would like, but that there will eventually be enough vaccine for everyone.

"We're pushing it out the door as fast as we can," Sebelius told "Good Morning America's" Diane Sawyer today. "There's a frustration that we have that the manufacturers are feeling. ... We just want people to be a little patient. It will be there. They will have one."

The government had initially said 40 million doses would be available by this time, but in reality, only one-fourth -- about 11 million -- of those are out. About 150 million doses will be needed to cover all Americans. Sebelius said the administration has ordered 250 million doses, with 16.5 million doses expected to be out the door by today.

The first outbreak of the H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu, was reported in April, and the first vaccines were made available in October. Sebelius disagreed with the idea that it's too late to get vaccinated, and that more doses are on their way.

"We've got 150,000 sites around the country. We would urge people to be a little patient," Sebelius said. "I hope that people aren't discouraged, and I know that it's frustrating to wait in line, particularly if you end up with no vaccine and we wish this could've been smoother."

"We knew that it would come in waves, and the waves have been a bit slower but talk to you local health officials, get on the web site, get information on the local level and come back," Sebelius added.

On Saturday, President Obama declared the H1N1 virus a public health emergency, paving the way for hospitals to create off-site wards to treat those infected with the virus. But while it gives health facilities and doctors flexibility in how they deal with swine flu patients, the declaration does nothing to speed up the production of vaccines. In fact, it may have inadvertently created some panic as facilities around the country saw long lines and not enough doses to treat everyone.