The DeKalb County Health Department has canceled all community and walk-in flu clinics, it announced Wednesday.

The department canceled the clinics after the flu vaccine supplier, Chiron Corporation, was suspended and the department learned it would not receive its full order, public health administrator Karen Grush said.

Britain suspended Chiron’s license for three months because of undisclosed problems at its Liverpool plant. The suspension has forced major vaccine shortages in the United States and other countries just as flu season is about to begin.

Grush said that once the department knows the status of the vaccine supply, it will offer a few clinics to county residents at highest risk, including children 6 to 23 months, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and others with qualifying conditions.

Influenza types A and B contribute to 36,000 deaths in the United States each year.

Flu season typically begins when it gets cold outside and people are in their homes more often. The season peaks in December, though the duration varies season to season.

Particularly deadly influenza strains have killed more people than average in past years, said Gail Williams, professor of clinical lab science.

“People in the USA and millions in other countries died from complications of Influenza A,” Williams said. “Certainly individuals who are under 2 or over 50 or already very ill from chronic disease are at greater risk of complications.”

Students living in close quarters with others are encouraged to get the flu shot, although Williams said she didn’t know how plentiful the supply is going to be.

“Flu shots will help reduce the overall risk not only to the person getting the shot but also those in contact with that person,” Williams said.

She said doctors may offer a nasal mist flu vaccine.

If a student tends to get influenza each year or is prone to respiratory infections, he or she should strongly consider the flu shot, Williams said.

Williams also stressed that if a woman is pregnant or nursing a child, it is very important for her to get a flu shot because complications greatly increase during pregnancy.

“Influenza A mutates so rapidly that by the end of the flu season it may be completely different from the strain the season started with,” Williams said.

There is speculation that a strong flu strain will emerge this season, Williams said.

“If the strain is similar to a previous season’s strain, a person may have partial immunity to the new strain,” Williams said. “However, people also may have zero immunity to the strain.”