(FORT MYERS, Fla.) The Lee County Health Department is out of seasonal flu vaccines, and it will be several weeks before shots are available there again.

The shortage comes in the midst of a flu outbreak. Lee County health officials say the number of flu sufferers in October is already at the level normally seen at the height of flu season in February.

Now, adults hoping to get a flu shot at the Lee County health department are out of luck.

"6,000 people in the United States will die from seasonal flu." Explains Jennifer James-Mesloh, of the Lee County Health Department. "In Lee County, what we typically see is 75-80 people a year who will die of seasonal flu."

As for when new shipments of the vaccine will arrive? "We have been told to expect our shipment sometimes after the first week of November, but exactly what that date is we have yet to find out, and exactly the amount we will get we still do not know." Explains Mesloh.

Makers of the adult seasonal flu vaccine switched the majority of their production to manufacturing the swine flu vaccine. That resulted in a shortage on seasonal flu supplies at busy health departments like Lee County's, and several other counties in Florida.

"Another thing that happened is we started our seasonal flu vaccines early this year," Explains Mesloh. "We started them in September because there was such a demand. Typically we don't start until late October."

How does the shortage in supplies affect the Lee County Health Department?

"It is frustrating in the sense that we're wanting to provide a safety net for people, we don't want people to get sick." Explains Mesloh.

The Lee County Health Department does have seasonal flu nasal vaccines for kids, and they are offered for free. However, that doesn't help vulnerable adults, like the elderly.

"What this does is this delays our efforts to try and get to those most at risk for seasonal flu and getting the severe complications for seasonal flu, and getting them protected and getting them vaccinated." Explains Mesloh.

Even though the Lee County Health Department is out, flu shots are still being offered at Lee County drug stores, grocery stores, and doctor's offices.

Collier and Charlotte county health departments still have vaccines available.