An outbreak of more than 150,000 cases of the disease in southern Russia and neighboring countries since 1990 was blamed on a lack of vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta first began warning of the potential shortage in December. The leading manufacturer of the vaccine, Aventis Pasteur, fell behind in production after maintenance work at the company's facilities took longer than expected. The CDC has recommended that health officials nationwide use the vaccine only to treat people with wounds and to prepare travelers headed to areas in which there is a high risk of diphtheria. The health district has been using about 170 doses of the vaccine each month for wound care alone, Chesebrough said.
Officials hope to reverse the nationwide shortage early next year.
In the meantime, students are not being vaccinated as part of regular school registration. The tetanus vaccine should be followed by a booster shot every 10 years, health officials say. The health district is working to add to its supplies, and the state Health Department is expected to issue an advisory soon about the shortage, Chesebrough said. Dr. Jerald Malone, who practices at the Family Medical Group in Las Vegas, said his office is running low, as well. For now, physicians are administering the vaccine to those who need it and aren't rationing the supplies, he said.