Area pharmacies stocked up on shots. Now, those pharmacies could be stuck with a shelf full of expired vaccines.

Cambria County Emergency Management predicts the third wave of the H1N1 virus will flow through the Alleghenies in February and March.

EMA Director Ron Springer said, “The third wave could be as minor as what the second wave was or it could come back and strike with a vengeance with that unknown we are still moving ahead to provide those vaccines to the people who want them.”

Springer said they have thousands of shots to offer and they're almost finished giving vaccines to participating schools.

Cambria County’s shots don’t expire until 2011 while other agencies are looking at a much shorter shelf life.

Martin's Food and Drugstore in Altoona said their vaccines expire in April.

Pharmacist Kylee McDougal said, “We did expect to have a high volume of vaccinations just due to the flu season so we did order a big supply we have a good number of doses left.”

Emergency Management's free clinics are set for Feb. 12 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The clinic will be held at the Central Park Complex and no registration is required. Anyone interested is encouraged to get vaccinated.