News of a vaccination shortage created a mad rush to health clinics across the country last year. The scene as Evanston health officials administered flu shots Friday was much more subdued.

More than 600 Evanston residents went to the Levy Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Friday afternoon as the Evanston Health and Human Services Department administered its first flu shots. About 100 fewer people showed up Friday than on the first day last year, said Nancy Flowers, city ombudsman for the Evanston Commission on Aging.

The line for the vaccination formed before the clinic opened at 8:30 a.m., and residents came in until it closed. At one point, about 100 people were waiting in line.

“Today we saw a different clinic,” Flowers said. “Last year was jammed.”

In fall 2004, Chiron Corporation, one of three companies licensed to provide flu vaccinations in the United States, announced it was unable to deliver 50 million doses of the flu vaccine after a British manufacturing plant closed because of contamination. The U.S. supply ran out quickly, leaving millions without the vaccination in the middle of flu season.

The department has not been at risk for shortage, although it has only received about 60 percent of its flu vaccination order so far, Evanston’s Director of Health and Human Services Jay Terry said.

Even with the continuous flow of patients, officials said it was a more relaxed scene than last year, when the news of the worldwide flu shot shortage had people dashing to clinics before it was too late.

“There were a couple people concerned about a shortage when they came in and saw the lines,” Flowers said.

Flowers greeted patients as they walked in and answered their questions – mainly about the wait and the possibility of shortages. Some were concerned about avian flu, she said, “but there was not as much panic as last year.”

Evanston resident Teri Ferentz, 50, said she has never received a flu shot, and does not plan to get one this year because she has always been healthy. Media coverage of avian flu and vaccine shortages did not influence her to go to the Levy Center.

“I eat right, wash my hands often, and I’m just not a big worrier,” Ferentz said.

Last week, President Bush announced a $7.1 billion plan to stockpile flu vaccinations and antiviral drugs, assist drugmakers, speed up vaccine production, and help state and local governments research response plans for outbreaks.

Evanston health officials have done some contingency planning should an outbreak occur, Terry said. He did not mention a specific plan of action but said the department would follow procedures mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Evanston staff hold monthly drills to deal with possible health crises such as outbreaks of avian flu, and officials stay in contact with police, firefighters, and paramedics.

“We also work with both hospitals (Saint Francis and Evanston Hospital) and Northwestern University,” Terry said.

Kay O’Connor, director of infection control at Evanston Hospital, said if a medical emergency occurred in Evanston, other hospitals in her hospital’s network would care for patients, she said.

“If it were to get really bad we would designate one of our other hospitals (Highland Park Hospital and Glenbrook Hospital) to hold these patients,” O’Connor said.

Residents are urged to get flu shots if they can, Terry said. But Ferentz won’t this year.

“If I catch the flu and it gets really bad, next year I’ll be screaming, ‘I’ve got to get the vaccine!'” Ferentz said.

Reach Vincent Bradshaw at [email protected].