EAST PROVIDENCE - When the unofficial start of flu season rolled around earlier this month the East Providence Senior Center had a hefty schedule of vaccination clinics lined up.

At least until The Wellness Company (TWC) ran out of shots.

Like a number of communities around Rhode Island who contract with TWC for annual flu shot clinics, the city’s senior center has currently suspended all scheduled flu shot clinics for October and November.

TWC is a for-profit medical service provider who performs wellness screenings, flu site programs and adult immunization programs. As of Monday, Oct. 26, a posting on the group’s website states there is currently a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine and TWC has been unable to obtain additional supplies from the department of health or other private distributors.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) said this year’s demand for the seasonal influenza vaccine appears to be “substantially higher” than last year.

Maureen Bouris, a registered nurse at the E.P. Senior Center, agrees. She’s seen this increased demand on a first hand basis. Prior to flu season kicking off, the senior center had scheduled twice-a-week flu shot clinics, the same schedule they had last year.

“It works well for us because we’re a big place. This is a centrally located spot with a lot of parking. We can accommodate a lot of people and we’re known for giving flu shots,” Ms. Bouris said.

Additionally, the clinics at the senior center aren’t just for seniors. They’re open to anyone from East Providence.

“When pediatricians kind of turned over giving flu shots to The Wellness Company they asked us if we minded children coming in and we don’t. They’re a lot of fun to have here. We were kind of excited actually,” Ms. Bouris said.

Prior to TWC announcing they were out of shots, the senior center held a total of six clinics servicing 834 people or 139 shots per clinic. In the entire 2008 flu season, 19 clinics were held servicing 1,129 people or 59.4 shots per clinic.

Why has the demand for this shot gone up so drastically?

“I think that it’s a result of many primary care physicians and pediatricians who have decided not to administer the flu vaccines in their office anymore,” Ms. Bouris said.

In place of having their own clinics, senior center workers and volunteers have been attempting to help local residents find other clinics offered around town, such as a couple that were recently held at nearby drug stores. Last Tuesday, the senior center fielded 50 of these calls in just one day, followed by another 25 on Wednesday.

The East Providence Senior Center can be reached at 435-7870.