Vicksburg area residents will likely run into delays in getting their flu shots this year because of the nationwide shortage of the vaccine.

Just as the local health departments will see delays in getting their supplies of flu vaccine, River Region Health System will see delays, said Lynwood Hightower, a pharmacist with the local health-care provider.

He said River Region normally buys 10,000 doses of flu vaccine each year. Because of the problems pharmaceutical manufacturers have had with production, the deliveries will be delayed and will be made in phases.

“We’ll receive about 16 percent of what we ordered, about 1,600 doses, in October,” Hightower said.

He expects that shipment to arrive in Vicksburg in about two weeks.

The Vicksburg news comes a day after a similar delay was reported for the state on Monday.

In November, River Region should receive a second shipment, of 6,400 doses, and the remainder, 2,500 doses, in December.

“We will use the priorities listed on the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta” as guidelines, Hightower said.

Two groups are at the top of the list because they are considered at the highest risk of contracting the flu, he said. Leading the list are the elderly and people who are health care providers.

After that, River Region will fulfill its contracts for flu shots and offer them to the public, he said.