H1N1 flu vaccine

[Prudence]

It's not considered a mandatory vaccine, so no coverage. After all - you wouldn't want federal employees getting perks like flu shots.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Prudence

It's not considered a mandatory vaccine, so no coverage. After all - you wouldn't want federal employees getting perks like flu shots.

Indeed, federal employees should probably be intentionally infected with a host of communicable diseases to encourage self-reliance and local solutions.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Ummm, my manager mentioned that one of our coworkers sent an email saying he's out today, tested positive for H1N1. Said coworker apparently just showed up. I'm considering arming myself with one of the 1 gallon jugs of hand sanitizer that are at every sink in the building to squirt in his general direction should he wander my way.

[BarTopDancer]

HR should send him home.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

So - those of us who have insurance do not have shots. The free clinics have them.

I finally broke down and called my local free clinic, designated for pregnant women's shots. I had no problem getting an appointment for a couple of days from now.

I feel bad "taking a shot away" from someone who can't afford insurance, but with my very public job, I just can't wait anymore.

[Not Afraid]

I visited my doctor today and they are out of regular flu shots. I'm on a waiting list for the general flu. (Like the General You, only different.) I'm still not convinced I will get the Pork Shot. (Like Pork Chop, only different.)

[BarTopDancer]

In theory, distributing them via the free clinics makes sense - those who are uninsured will cost the state more money if they get sick and have to seek medical treatment vs. those with insurance that will pay if they get sick.

CP - I'm glad you looked into getting the shot elsewhere. I would think that OB offices would be close to the top of the list for places to receive shots from the suppliers. I hope you are able to secure one for Greg too.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I would think that OB offices would be close to the top of the list for places to receive shots from the suppliers.

OB offices do not supply shots at all. I read an article on this a while back. They don't have the setup or staff to administer shots, so sending the shots there wouldn't work well. It's up to the regular providers to give them. Why they aren't giving at least some of these to the providers, I don't know.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

OB offices do not supply shots at all. I read an article on this a while back. They don't have the setup or staff to administer shots, so sending the shots there wouldn't work well. It's up to the regular providers to give them. Why they aren't giving at least some of these to the providers, I don't know.

Well that's stupid (not the OB's not set up to give them, the not giving them to regular providers with the caveat they go to x group then y group first).

This whole distribution thing seems to be one big FUBARed situation fueled by the media (yes, on the teevee where the masses get their news from).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Well that's stupid (not the OB's not set up to give them, the not giving them to regular providers with the caveat they go to x group then y group first).

This whole distribution thing seems to be one big FUBARed situation fueled by the media (yes, on the teevee where the masses get their news from).

Hmm, now I'm really confused as to how the media has anything to do with the distribution of the vaccine.



I got an email today from the City which I thought might be worth sharing, though those who aren't in OC (or don't have kids, so it'll be even less) won't have much to see here, but I find the whole process interesting, so here goes.

Passing on information from the City of Orange Emergency Medical Services Manager



IF you are trying to find H1N1 vaccine for your families here is an option



I still don’t know when we’ll get our first shots, so……. if you haven’t been able to get them for your kids OR you have a baby less than 6 months of age at home I would encourage you to go to one of these 3 sites this coming Saturday.



They will ONLY give it to parents taking care of a baby under 6 months of age and kids between the ages of 2 and 9. Don’t waste your time if you don’t meet those two criteria.



Crowds might be worse this weekend. I don’t think they advertised the one last Saturday very well……



This article was in the O.C. register yesterday.


Three more public nasal-spray H1N1 clinics this Saturday
November 2nd, 2009, 2:57 pm posted by Landon Hall



If you missed the twin bill of swine-flu nasal-spray clinics offered by the county this past weekend, you can still get vaccinated at one of three separate such clinics being held this coming Saturday.

All three clinics are free and open to the public. They’ll be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at:

* Cox Communications, 29947 Avenida De Las Banderas, Rancho Santa Margarita
* Fullerton College, 321 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton
* Cypress City Hall, 5275 Orange Ave., Cypress

About 3,000 doses of the FluMist-brand nasal spray will be administered, not the injectable version. FluMist is recommended only for kids ages 2-9, and healthy adults up to age 49 who care for children ages 6 months or younger, who can’t get flu vaccines of any kind.

A total of 3,277 received nasal-spray spritzes of vaccine at Santa Ana College and Irvine Valley College last Saturday in the first public swine-flu vaccination clinics held by Orange County officials. People started lining up well before dawn to make sure their children got inoculated, but as it turned out, there was plenty of supply to meet the demand. Officials had 4,000 doses available, so there was more then enough to go around, easing fears that the nationwide shortage of H1N1 vaccine might result in some families being turned away.

“We believe that people may have seen the images of long lines and may have stayed away out of concern,” David Souleles, Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director, said in an e-mail. “It seems that most people came early anticipating a line, and few came during the last two hours. By 1 p.m., people could walk right in without a wait.

“Though we would have liked to have provided more vaccinations, we were very pleased with the number of people who brought their children. The public was very orderly and understanding about the limitations the Health Care Agency had to place on who was eligible to receive vaccine.”

Meantime, the HCA continues to vaccinate pregnant women against H1N1 with injectable doses, but only by appointment. Eighty-three women received shots last Friday, the first day they were available; 126 appointments were scheduled for Monday, and another 147 for Tuesday.

To set up a time, call the HCA’s referral line at 1-800-564-8448.

The county received another shipment of 8,300 single-dose shots Monday, bringing the total to 14,300 such doses that have arrived since last Friday. All are free of the preservative thimerosal.

About 200 shots have been earmarked for the Newport-Mesa Unified School district, which will hold a clinic for students on Saturday in At Mariners Elementary School in Newport Beach from 9 a.m. to noon. Other doses are going to private obstetricians. Some shots already have been distributed to hospitals.

In other swine-flu vaccine news Monday:

* Federal health officials said that data confirm that a single dose is effective when given to pregnant women. Children 9 and younger still need two doses, four weeks apart.
* The government said over the weekend the five companies that make the H1N1 vaccine for Americans has ramped up production and should have an additional 10 million doses available next week.
* The CDC said that another 19 children died of H1N1 during the week ending Oct. 24, bringing the total to 114 since the pandemic began in April. Four children and two pregnant women are among the 23 fatalities in Orange County from the virus.
* Sacramento County’s top public-health official asked for a state of emergency in the county because of the rising number of H1N1 cases.

Note that next-to-last bit about child deaths. If you follow the link:

Nineteen more U.S. children died from pandemic H1N1 influenza in the week ending Oct. 24, bringing the total to 65 since Aug. 30 and to 114 since the beginning of the pandemic in April...In a normal flu season, 40 to 50 children die, so the swine flu is affecting children much more severely than seasonal flu.