CHARLESTON — Purell machines churned out foamed hand sanitizer to a flu-conscious public throughout the Capitol, and Kanawha County health officials administered shots Thursday — all part of a stepped-up effort to combat the flu.

A doctor serving on the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability cautioned West Virginians to act soon, for the vaccine supply might soon be exhausted.

A co-chairman, Senate Heath and Human Resources Chair Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, wondered if the seasonal flu vaccine is being given too early, asking if its clout might fizzle before the danger is dissipated.

Sen. Ron Stollings, D-Boone, himself a physician, assured Prezioso that the antibodies won’t peak before the flu season ends in late winter.

“Now would be a good time to get your seasonal flu shot,” Stollings said.

“Unfortunately, there is probably going to be a shortage of that. Get them when and if you can. Now is a good time. The antibodies will peak about the right time.”

Stollings told the panel his clinic only has about 60 vaccines left, and already has administered doses to some 2,000 patients.

A like number has been given to workers at coal mines in the area, he said.

Another panelist, Delegate Larry Border, R-Wood, said he and his wife have been inundated at their store by customers seeking the vaccine.

“There is such a limited number of companies that make the flu accident historically because of some medical-legal issues in the past,” Stollings said.

“These folks who have been sued do not make the flu shot. The ones that are left are sharing their seasonal flu shot capacity and also are making the H1N1 shots available.”

Of the people getting the seasonal vaccine through his office, Stollings said none has complained of any side effects.

In fact, he said, the only post-vaccine discomfort is likely to be a sore arm.

“You cannot get the flu from a seasonal flu shot,” he said, describing the vaccine as a “killed virus.”

“This time of year, everybody gets a cold. They get a flu shot and they get a cold think the flu shot caused the cold. They were going to get the cold anyway.”

Most of the panel’s attention was riveted on the shortage within the Department of Health and Human Resources — a figure that teeters around the 10 percent mark.

John Law, deputy secretary for DHHR, acknowledged problems in recruiting and retaining people to work in Medicaid and social services.

“We’re often unable to keep people,” he told the committee.

“Vacancies there are a problem. That is a continuing problem. It will probably continue to be a problem.”

Sen. Evan Jenkins, D-Cabell, suggested the issue likely will be exacerbated no matter what form a national health care bill ultimately will take, because Medicaid will increase.

When it comes to salaries, Law said it is “difficult” to get approval for higher pay even when money is available.

“We have very little flexibility,” he said.

“We cannot, as a department, just say routinely we’re going to give this person more money.”

Given West Virginia’s vast reliance on revenues generated by the industry, Stollings said, “We might need to keep the coal industry going to solve some of these problems.”

Now that new hires won’t be eligible for post-employment benefits, Delegate Rick Moye, D-Raleigh, speculated this would make DHHR’s task in finding new workers even more challenging.

“I’m sure that will have some effect,” Law added.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com