Physicians' offices across the country have been on alert since December about a shortage of many common childhood vaccines for diseases, such as Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping cough.

Throughout the nation, including State College, doctors' offices and hospitals have been feeling the strain of the vaccine shortage.

Although Centre County Community Hospital does not administer children's vaccines, the limited supply has affected the hospital.

"We have been having trouble obtaining the Rubella vaccine," said Jan Strouse, nurse manager for maternity.

Strouse said the vaccine is given to women who are not immune after they give birth to prevent them from getting German Measles upon their next pregnancies.

The hospital will not have a full stock of the vaccine until December, Strouse said.

The Central Medical and Surgical Associates Pediatrics division has been forced to reschedule its vaccine calendar to accommodate the deficiency.

A spokeswoman for the group said the group has a few of the vaccines on back order.

However, because different companies produce the various vaccines, they will be released at separate times.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the vaccine for Tetanus, an inoculation in short supply takes 11 months to produce. Many of the vaccines contain a Tetanus component and the slow production of the Tetanus has slowed other vaccine production.

The spokeswoman also said the Medical and Surgical Associates Pediatrics division is trying to work with the depleted vaccine supply by replacing combination inoculations, like Tetanus/Diphtheria, with individual shots.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has been aware of the vaccine shortage since the beginning of the season.

"We are working with the different health facilities to help them reach protocol," said Jessica Smith, deputy press secretary.

Smith said the department constantly is watching the supply and people shouldn't worry.

"Rumors that there is a shortage of MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) are false," Smith said.

Currently, most companies are predicting that the vaccines will be restocked in late summer or early fall, according to the state Department of Health.

This creates a problem for children attending summer camps or entering school. There are strict immunization requirements necessary for children in the school system.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is looking into adjusting the Varicella vaccine requirement for school children, as the immunization is part of the shortage.

Merck, a pharmaceutical company, is the only manufacturer of the Varicella vaccine and has no predictions for when the supply will rebound, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

There would not be a general price increase in inoculations due to the scarcity; however, the price of the influenza vaccine is expected to rise throughout 2002, Smith said.