AUGUSTA (AP) – State health officials acknowledged some spot vaccine shortages as sporadic flu cases appear, but said Tuesday that Maine has escaped the widespread shortages reported in other states.

“There is no shortage at this point in the state,” said Dr. Kathleen Gensheimer, the state epidemiologist. Gensheimer said influenza is showing up earlier than usual in Maine.

As national stocks of the flu vaccine run low, health officials said they are trying to ensure that Maine’s highest risk population is vaccinated and that people take other, simpler steps to stop the spread of harmful germs.

They include covering coughs and washing hands often, said Gov. John Baldacci, who noted he’s had his flu shot. The governor said the Health Bureau will be distributing posters promoting its “Cover Your Cough and Clean Your Hands” campaign.

State health officials distributed nearly 80,000 doses of flu shots purchased with about $450,000 Maine’s share of the tobacco lawsuit settlement as flu season approached. The state does not charge for vaccines, but doctors may charge fees for administering them, said state Health Bureau Director Dora Anne Mills.

The state has been surveying health care providers to see how vaccine supplies are holding up, Mills said.

“As of Friday and yesterday, there were no widespread shortages of the vaccinations here in Maine. There were some spotty shortages, especially around pediatric offices but so far we’ve been able to defer places where there were surpluses and send our own stock to those places” needing supplies, Mills said.

High-risk people include those who are 50 and older, those with chronic diseases and women who are pregnant beyond the first trimester, health care providers and anyone who lives with someone over 50 or under 6 months of age or who has a chronic disease.

Children ages six month to 23 months should also be vaccinated.

Shortages of the vaccine have forced emergency action in Montana, where local health officials across the state had to ration what was left after the flu showed up early and hit people harder.

In Oklahoma, where a flu outbreak has reached epidemic proportions and at least six people have died, county health departments are expected to run out of vaccine by the week’s end.

Supplies are dwindling in Alaska, southern Michigan, northern California and Washington, which like Maine is encouraging “respiratory etiquette” to prevent the spread of germs.

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On the Net:

State Flu Update Page: http://www.state.me.us/dhs/boh/mip/flu/

AP-ES-12-09-03 1550EST