Local health service providers are responding to a nationwide shortage of flu vaccines by administering them only to people at high risk for complications.

The supply of the flu vaccines has been cut short after British regulators unexpectedly shut down one of the suppliers Tuesday.

The closing has created a record shortage over the country on the brim of flu season, also affecting local health service providers.

The Bellefonte Medical Clinic received numerous phone calls yesterday with people wanting to schedule a flu vaccine as soon as possible, medical assistant Rhonda Long said.

"It [has] been really crazy, with people wanting to get the [shots] before we run out," she said.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) set up priority groups for influenza vaccination Tuesday. According to the press release issued by the CDC, people 65 years or older receive the highest priority.

The list also includes women who are pregnant, children under 6 months old or adults with a chronic health problem, and health care workers who have direct contact with patients.

Health service providers in the area are following the guidelines provided by the CDC.

"We set a contingency plan in motion," said Emma Smith, a Mount Nittany Medical Center employee and occupational health coordinator.

The medical center will first provide immunization to health care workers directly involved with patients, Smith said.

Then, priority goes to employees or volunteers who meet any of the CDC guidelines.

University Health Services (UHS) will follow the CDC guidelines and will give a priority to students who are considered high risk to complications of influenza, said UHS Director Margaret Spear.

"We have a small supply, but we are confident that we have enough to vaccinate those who are considered high-risk," she said.

Last year, UHS provided the flu vaccine to about 2,300 students, but availability wasn't an issue then, Spear said. This year, a number of clinics were scheduled to administer flu vaccinations, but they have been canceled due to the national shortage, she said.

British regulators suspended the license of Chiron Corp. for three months because of manufacturing problems at its Liverpool, England, factory.

The factory makes the leading Fluvirin flu vaccine and is one of the major flu vaccine suppliers for the United States.

The delay of the three-month suspension is a nominal problem, considering that the factory will not be shipping any Fluvirin anywhere this year.

The 46 to 48 million doses originally planned for shipping to the United States will not be sent.

The remaining 54 million doses of the U.S. supply have already been shipped and are coming from a different manufacturer, Aventis Pasteur.

Neither of the area health service providers obtain the flu vaccination from Chiron Corp., but it is a nationwide problem, Spear said.

"It involves everyone and it's going to affect everyone else who is going to want to get it from [our manufacturer]," Long said.

The medical center still has no plan as to the remaining number of vaccines.

"At this point we haven't made a decision about how to dispense the balance of the vaccine, but rest assured that the CDC guidelines will be followed," Smith said.

UHS will be administering flu vaccines to high-risk students beginning Oct. 18.

Students can make an appointment at 863-0774.

The Associated Press contributed to this report