With nearly five months left in the flu season, one of the state's largest distributors of flu shots, Hawaii Medical Service Association, has run out of vaccine.

"Participation in our community clinics exceeded our expectations," said Laura Lott, an HMSA spokeswoman. "We don't have enough vaccine."

HMSA, which has given out more than 34,000 flu shots, canceled its final five community clinics scheduled today through Nov. 17. One clinic was on Maui and the other four were on O'ahu in the downtown area.

Flu season generally runs between October and March and peaks in January and February.

"The good news is, people are taking advantage of the opportunity to get their flu shots early," Lott said.

Tommy Ansary, a 32-year-old McCully man and father of two, said he and his wife got their shots on Thursday at Longs in Mo'ili'ili.

"Because of the influenza coming around, and all the talk about that bird flu stuff, my wife said, 'Let's go ahead and get the shots,' " he said. "The kids got them, too."

Last year's shortage of flu vaccine also influenced the family's decision to get the shots early, he said.

"Everyone is clamoring to get it this year," he said.

Kaiser Permanente, another large distributor of flu shots, has had brisk business at its clinics but still has vaccine to serve its members, said Lynn Kenton, a spokeswoman for the HMO.

Dr. Linda Rosen, deputy director of the state Health Department, said that 250,000 doses of flu vaccine were shipped to various healthcare providers in Hawai'i and that the vaccine is available in other locations.

It is the same amount that was ordered — but not delivered —last year, she said. It should be enough to cover those who choose to be vaccinated, and there have been no delivery problems this year, she said.

"We believe there is still a sufficient supply of flu vaccine in Hawai'i," she said.

Most of the supply went to private providers, she said. The state ordered 6,000 doses, which it will distribute to providers who need it and plan to use it for those at highest risk, she said.

The Health Department is getting requests from providers for those extra doses, she said.

Late last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and Dr. Paul Effler, state epidemiologist, recommended that everyone, not just the young, the elderly and others traditionally considered to be at risk, get vaccinated.

Although the flu vaccine does not specifically target bird flu — which hasn't yet mutated to spread easily from person to person — scientists say preventing the spread of regular flu could help protect populations from a deadly pandemic.

Health officials say one way bird flu could spread from person to person would be through combining it with a more common flu virus.

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Reach Karen Blakeman at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.