The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it will offer its vaccine stockpile of 3.1 million doses to flu vaccine maker Aventis Pasteur for sale to healthcare providers throughout the country.

It also gave the green light to states and local jurisdictions that cannot redistribute vaccine to give shots to anyone who requests them.

These actions come just months after the agency ordered that vaccines be distributed only to the most vulnerable due to a projected severe shortage. In recent weeks, states have reported a surplus of vaccine due to growing unused supplies.

While the CDC is expanding its stockpile, it said it was not going to open the vaccine to anyone on a national basis because supply and demand varies by locality. Some areas have more vaccine than they need and others still have too little.