Greece, N.Y. - Dick Rizzo said he has had the flu for five days. Now, his wife Phyllis is sick. Both had the flu shot a month ago.
But doctors warn this is a challenging year because the flu vaccine doesn't cover all strains of the virus.
Even so, they said it's still important to get a shot. But finding the vaccine isn't easy.
Wegmans had an ample supply and didn't anticipate any shortages until 4,000 people came in for flu shots last week. That exhausted the store's supply.
Other stores and chains are also reporting they have run out of vaccine.
Wegmans Pharmacist Dick Standish said it's been a tough couple of weeks: "Nobody. Nobody saw this coming."
Standish said not everyone that is sick has the flu. He said he has seen the respiratory virus and other illnesses as well.
How can you stay healthy when everyone around you is sick? Well good hand washing is important, so is a good diet and exercise.
Standish said anything that can boost your immune system is important. That can include over-the-counter medicines that contain zinc or Vitamin C.
Those products include Airborne, Cold-eez and Zicam. Standish said many people report staying healthier because they've taken these medicines.
He said, "It certainly cannot hurt." He said you could still get sick, but if your immunities are strong, chances are your symptoms will be less severe.
If you need a flu shot, the best advice, is to call the store or pharmacy ahead of time to see if they have the vaccine. You can also check with your local health department.
Flu Prevention Partners does have a flu vaccine clinic scheduled for Tuesday, January 15. It runs from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Greece Town Hall.
