(From the L.A. Times) Officials have distributed the H1N1 flu vaccine unevenly throughout Los Angeles County, with fewer doses going to medically underserved areas in the county’s north and south, according to public health agency figures.

While there is now a surplus of vaccine countywide, northern and southern areas received a smaller share of the roughly 3 million vaccine doses distributed by the county, mainly because they are home to fewer doctors, pharmacies and other health providers, experts said. The lower number of healthcare providers translates into a lower number of requests for the vaccine, they said.

Los Angeles County public health officials said they attempted to distribute the vaccine fairly, especially during a national shortage in November and December, but they acknowledged that some of those efforts failed to ensure equal access.

Read more here: H1N1 vaccine was unevenly distributed across L.A. County, figures show