Vaccines for seasonal flu are in short supply in Japan as production is down on last year and more people want to be inoculated in the midst of the H1N1 epidemic, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Saturday. Domestic manufacturers are expected to provide enough seasonal flu vaccine for some 45.04 million adults, or about 80% last year’s total, according to the ministry.
   
Many hospitals report that more people than usual are seeking to be inoculated. Eiji Kuzumi, director of Navitas Clinic Tachikawa in western Tokyo, said that 20-30% more people than usual have been requesting flu jabs since October. ‘‘Some people who do not ordinarily get inoculated are hoping to get a seasonal flu vaccination as it is not certain when they can receive the new-flu vaccination,’’ he said.