With vials containing the H1N1 vaccine in stock, area clinics braced for a crowd. But the surge never arrived Wednesday, a surprise to many health officials.

“The demand is less than what we expected,” said Cathy Sanderson, Lawrence County clinic supervisor.

Officials in Limestone County agreed.

“We figured people would be lined up out the door because we’ve had so many calls about the vaccine, but they weren’t,” said Limestone County Clinic Supervisor Donna Shelton.

“When we found out we were getting the vaccines, we couldn’t get the word out fast enough.”

900 doses taken

The message reached the community Thursday as a stream of people filed through the Limestone County Health Department.

By the end of the day, Shelton said the county’s stock decreased to 100 from the initial 1,000 doses, but an additional 200 vaccines were to arrive Friday.

After dispensing more than 500 of its 600 doses, Lawrence County will also receive more vaccine.

Andrea George, immunization program manager for Public Health Area 2, said the state is transferring the doses to Lawrence County from a county with an ample supply.

Vaccines will be available Friday at all health departments in Area 2, which includes Law­rence, Limestone, Morgan, Madison, Jackson, Marshall and Cullman counties, George said.

Distributed statewide

Alabama received 55,000 doses of the vaccine, which the Department of Public Health distributed to county health departments based on population.

Morgan County received 1,600 doses.

Only individuals in the high-risk category are eligible for the first round of vaccinations. The group includes pregnant women, children 6 months to 4 years, health-care workers, children 5 to 18 years old with health conditions, and parents, caregivers and siblings of children younger than six months.

State officials expect another 300,000 vaccinations to arrive in two or three weeks and hope the number of swine flu-related deaths does not increase.

To date, the public health department has linked 22 deaths in Alabama to H1N1.

“Honestly, we didn’t know how this would go or what to expect,” said George, who oversees Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, Madison, Jackson, Marshall and Cullman counties. “All we knew is that we would have enough for the at-risk people.”

No regular flu shots

While the health departments strive to meet the demand for H1N1 vaccinations, no supply exists to meet the demand for the regular flu vaccine.

All three local health departments ran out of the regular flu vaccine in early October.

“We are still waiting and are hoping to hear any day about the resupply,” said George.

She said she is confident the state will receive another vaccine supply eventually.