"People have been very understanding. We normally order about 4,000 doses. But this year, we only got half," said Dr. George Reed, Warren County health commissioner, who was handing out flu shot tickets to arriving seniors.

At the Felicity Social Center, where Clermont County health workers administered more than 200 shots in the first of six planned clinics, a sheriff's deputy guided traffic as cars lined up along two streets through most of the morning.

"It was all very orderly," said Janet Rickabaugh, Clermont County health commissioner.

In Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, senior citizens, parents with infants or toddlers, and the chronically ill joined millions nationwide in a race to get flu shots. A manufacturing problem in England cut off nearly half the expected U.S. supply, prompting public health officials to reserve remaining doses for high-risk people.

The Clermont County flu clinic had visitors from as far as western Hamilton County. The Warren County event was limited to county residents.

In Northern Kentucky, flu shot clinics begin later this month, but reservations have already been made for all available doses.

In Warren County, however, lines had dwindled sharply by Tuesday afternoon.

"I thought I'd have to wait and wait, but I didn't at all," said Lebanon resident Kathryn Drake, 88. "I think it was very well run this year."

One surprise to Rickabaugh: Relatively few seniors seeking shots who didn't seek them in past years.

"We're not giving very many first-time flu shots at all," she said.

Beyond the short supply of vaccine, nobody knows whether this will be a mild or harsh flu season.

"That's anybody's guess," Reed said.

Public health officials urge that only high-risk people get flu shots this year, including children ages 6-23 months, people over 65, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases. Among the health departments and organizations that still have flu shots to offer:

• Healthworks, a private company, has 3,000 doses. A first-come, first-served clinic is scheduled 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Gorman Farms, 3035 Gorman Heritage Farm Lane, Evendale. If supplies remain, a second clinic will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdayat M.E. Lyons YMCA, 8108 Clough Pike, Anderson Township. Shots are $20 each. (513) 751-1288.

• Clermont County has five remaining clinics scheduled, with doses divided among the events. The next two are 9:30-11:30 a.m. today at the Bethel Friendship Center, 129 N. Union St.; and Thursday in Batavia at the YWCA's LBD Center, 2075 Front Wheel Drive. First come, first served. (513) 536-4026.

• Warren County distributed nearly all its flu shots Tuesday. Details for another flu shot clinic will be announced today (513) 695-1464.

• Northern Kentucky Health District has 800 doses. Two hundred will be set aside for each of these counties: Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Grant. The shots will be given at the end of October or in early November to people who made reservations last week.

• Cincinnati Health Department will begin administering flu shots on Oct. 25 at 19 senior centers. All appointments have been filled. All other adult doses at the city's six public health centers are gone. More pediatric doses might arrive within two weeks. The Health Department is not taking names for a waiting list, (513) 981-0981.

• Butler County Health Department is out of the flu shot, but it may get another shipment at the end of October.

E-mail tbonfield@enquirer.com