Following in the creative footsteps of Bloomfield, New Jersey, health officials in the Montgomery County, Maryland, decided to distribute its 800 unused flu shots through a lottery. About 20,000 people, all at high risk, signed up for Wednesday's drawing.

Officials resort to lottery for distribution of flu shots

Following in the footsteps of Bloomfield, N.J., and Newton, Iowa, Montgomery County, Md., decided to distribute its 800 unused doses through a lottery, USA Today reported. About 20,000 people, all at high risk, signed up for Wednesday's drawing.

"We've been getting 40 calls an hour for weeks now — people asking where they can get a shot, asking what they can do," says Susan Fernyak, deputy health officer with the city and county of San Francisco. "There's not a lot we can say beyond, 'Wash your hands and leave the room if someone is coughing.' "

The flu vaccine situation is as follows: 61 million doses — well below the 100 million expected this year because of supplier problems — are available to the USA's estimated 95 million high-risk patients. They include people under age 2 and over 65, pregnant women and anyone with chronic conditions ranging from asthma to HIV.

"Everyone thinks they're high-risk," says Darlene Manchen, who as office manager for the Flemington (N.J.) Medical Group has fielded hundreds of desperate calls. She was angry at having to play God.

"What scares me is, this isn't even a real emergency," Gonda says. "No one has even died yet. But someday we'll have a killer flu, and then what?"

The free-market approach to vaccine production has been blasted by some health experts since the shortage began.

Several drug companies have left the vaccine business over the years, and a major reason, experts say, is that there is a lot more money to be made with a blockbuster drug taken daily than for a flu shot, which costs doctors less than $10 a dose and is given once a year.