HAMILTON — Doris and Charles Meininger have received the seasonal flu shot every year for the past 20 years, but they’ve never seen anything like this.

“We usually get it at the end of October. But by the time I called around they were out everywhere,’’ said Doris Meininger, 72, of Hamilton.

“We called our doctor, the pharmacy, Kroger, Sam’s and none of them had the flu shot. We were distressed about whether we were going to be able to get it.’’

The Meiningers were among about 40 area residents who got the flu shot from Colonial Seniors. The independent living agency hosted a flu clinic last week at Partners in Prime’s Fairfield location, and has planned more for this week.

Health officials said in years past they couldn’t “give the seasonal flu shot away’’ and were forced to toss hundreds of doses of the vaccine because residents weren’t interested.

Not this year.

Area health departments and many doctor’s offices, pharmacies and other retailers are out of the seasonal flu vaccine and are now telling residents to check back in a couple weeks when they expect to receive an additional supply. Some experts speculate that heightened awareness of the H1N1 flu vaccine has also stimulated interest in getting the seasonal flu vaccine.

The Butler County Health Department used all 300 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine it received in about 15 business days. The Middletown Health Department used all of its 200 doses in just one.

“We’re completely out. Most health departments are,” said Jackie Phillips, director of nursing for the Middletown agency. “Most of the time we waste it. But when it’s in the media and they’re talking about how sick people are or that people are dying, people get concerned.’’

Due to budget cuts, the Ohio Department of Health ordered just 45,000 doses this year, a 76 percent drop from the 190,000 doses ordered last year.

“We typically order much more, but we had seen in the past that all of the vaccine was not being used. We also had a reduction in state funding for the vaccine, which is why we limited it to high-risk and uninsured adults,’’ said ODH spokesman Kristopher Weiss.

Weiss also attributed the decline in the amount of seasonal flu vaccine ordered to its rising cost. Since 2000, the price per dose has risen from $1.85 to $13, a 600 percent increase.

Weiss urged residents seeking the vaccine to check with their doctors and employers who typically receive more than county or city health departments.

Butler County Health Department Nursing Director Tricia D. Anglin said they received less than half the 700 ordered and are currently on a waiting list to receive more.

“We have lots of families with children looking for shots. We’re hoping that by the end of the H1N1 push that they’ll start putting out more. I’d advise parents to just keep looking."

Both Walgreens and CVS stores in the Greater Cincinnati area are out, according to local pharmacists and clinic Web sites.

“Most of our Take Care Clinics will get an additional supply in the next week or two. But many are out now and many of our pharmacies are out,” said Jim Cohn, a spokesman for Walgreens, which has 7,000 stores nationwide.

Colonial Seniors, an independent living agency for senior citizens, is one of the few places in Butler County still offering the shot. The agency ordered 2,500 doses of the vaccine and had already given 2,100 shots last week.

Colonial officials have scheduled flu clinics throughout the week, and say they should have enough to last through early November. If not, they will begin to ration the supply.

“Last year, we couldn’t give them away free. This year, we’re sweating it,” said Sheila Rains, a Colonial Seniors nurse.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.