Nov
04
The other flu vaccine
Updated: 12 p.m. with information from the Illinois Department of Public Health
With all the attention on the H1N1 influenza vaccine, supplies of which have fallen far short of what was forecast, little notice has been paid to the rapidly diminishing stock of seasonal flu vaccine.
While flu shots are typically available throughout October and into November, this year’s stock was tapped out in many locations in Downers Grove and throughout the state and country by early October. I began calling for the shot about Oct. 20 and found it nowhere to be had, including my doctor’s office.
A staffer at a local Walgreen’s TakeCare Clinic told me weeks ago that they were focusing their attention on the H1N1 vaccine this year — which, of course, has been available only through the DuPage County Health Department.
An Osco pharmacist told me his company had made a similar business decision and had exhausted its seasonal supply by early October. The store is getting 10 to 15 calls a day from people seeking a vaccine against the seasonal flu.
Even the county health department has been out of the seasonal vaccine for weeks, although further supplies may be forthcoming. The department made the decision a few years ago to turn its seasonal flu vaccination program over to retailers like Osco and Dominicks, thinking they would have better resources to get the vaccines to the public.
Unfortunately, business considerations seem to have trumped public health concerns.
The CDC has stated for months that both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine supplies would be adequate to meet the needs of the nation. Further reports indicated the public got the message, taking the health establishment at its word and seeking out the vaccines.
However, it now appears there is not nearly enough of either vaccine to meet demand as we head into the thick of flu season. Part of the reason may be manufacturers’ focus on turning out the H1N1 vaccine — an achievement that has yet to occur in anything approaching the necessary quantities.
Melanie Arnold, a spokewoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health said the agency started pushing the seasonal flu shot earlier this year in an attempt to get a jump on the forthcoming H1N1 vaccine. With the public more aware of the flu this year than in typical years, stores and clinics “went through much larger quantities than they thought they would.”
Seasonal flu vaccine orders are typically placed in January or February based on the amount of vaccine sold that season, she said.
Even the state came up short in its vaccination programs for state workers, Arnold said. “We had to cancel and postpone clinics in Springfield. The manufacturer said we can’t get more until November.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is “very aware” of the shortage, Arnold said. “The CDC is calling it a delay rather than a shortage. They’re telling us that some manufacturers are still manufacturing the season flu vaccine.” One manufacturer still has 30% of its stock still to make.
In the long-term, both the manufacturer and the CDC say they will continue to make the H1N1 vaccine available to every one who wants it.
The same may not be true for the seasonal flu vaccine, despite the fact that the seasonal flu takes about 36,000 American lives per year.
Interestingly, the state health department has little to say or do about the availability of vaccine, acting as “middleman” between manufacturers and the physicians, retailers and clinics that distribute it. Similarly, the DuPage County has handed off responsibility for ensuring a supply of vaccine to private enterprise — which apparently decided to bet big on the H1N1 vaccine.
As we saw six years ago, the government seems far more effective at motivating Americans to seek vaccines than in ensuring an adequate supply of those vaccines. If this is any indication of the government’s ability to regulate the production and distribution of a vaccine in a health emergency, God help us.
Normally the seasonal flu vaccine is given mid-October through November. The CDC this year recommended starting seasonal flu vaccine September 1 through November. Roughly the same number of vaccines were made as last year, but they started earlier. The original thought pattern was there would be a 30 day wait between seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. That H1N1 is way off production goals.
“If this is any indication of the government’s ability to regulate the production and distribution of a vaccine in a health emergency, God help us.”
Amen, EJ!!!
A Viewmaster peek at what a government run health system would look like up close. Do not let this happen on your watch folks. Write(on old fashioned real paper) the numbskulls in Congress and tell them NO.
Regardless of how you feel about the Health Care Reform Bill, the vaccine shortage for both flu strains has little to do with government bungling or bureaucracy-although I understand the temptation to link the 2 together.
The vaccine is growing slower than the typical seasonal vaccine, and the manufacture’s over promised-that’s all. I’m as frustrated as every parent is, but I can’t find a logical way to hang this one on a health care system that is, to this point, a bill being discussed in congress.
If anything, shouldn’t this be an indictment on the system as it currently exists? I think the government would screw up a 2 car funeral but I’m not going to follow the pundits and talk show hosts on this one.
Please source the data for the “slow growing” statement. Today’s WSJ qoutes a CDC spokesman blaming “slow production,” a different animal entirely. Obviously the CDC needs to CYA. I’d like to see a Baxter,et al explanation.
Not sure how that effects the inability for one to obtain the seasonal shot. I’m sure private industry will be blamed for that too. Drug companies BAD. Got it.
Most sources site the first time ever involvement of the Fed Admin and the CDC in controlling the distribution of the vaccines.
Most have been unable to obtain a seasonal flu shot. Health care workers and others at risk can not get it.
Those traveling in the south can find it anywhere and everywhere including after church in the lobby. Not sure why. Greater senior populations?
This has nothing to do with health care reform at all. Here are the facts. Federal officials initially projected that as many as 120 million doses of the vaccine would be ready to dispense by mid-October. They later reduced their estimate to 45 million. As of Tuesday, only 12.8 million were available. (Health officials say a single dose will protect adults, while children under 10 will need two doses.)
This is yet again this administrations failure to live up to its hype. This vaccine shortage is 100% attributed to the governments inability to run anything effectively. I don’t care how long the virus takes to grow or how out of date the process is in growing the vaccine. (50+ years old) Government should have found additional companies to produce the vaccine. This is a perfect example of how when government gets involved things get screwed up. The CDC isn’t even doing a fair job of regulating who gets the vaccine. Just tonight on the ABC news there was a child from Bollingbrook who’s father drove to 5 or 6 clinics before finally getting the vaccine. The little girl has down syndrome. I can guarantee that many very healthy individuals got the vaccine ahead of this little girl. So much for the government caring for the weak, sick or elderly. If the vaccine was produced to fill a need instead of a government mandate there would have been plenty to go around. The cost may have been higher due to supply and demand principals, but people who wanted the vaccine would have it!
Are we talking about H1N1 or the seasonal flu, Chad? Well, never mind. Both are in short to non-existent supply. And expect to see a spike in the36,000 average seasonal flu deaths for 2009-10 if more vaccine isn’t made available.
I remember doing a similar story back in ’03 or ‘o4. The strain that year was fatal for many children and there was a run on vaccine. Big surprise! Supplies of the vaccine were not adequate.
The talk then was that the government needs to GUARANTEE a certain amount of doses, so the manufacturers don’t end up tossing the stuff (and their $$$) down the drain if it isn’t in demand. This is the only way to ensure that enough vaccine is available under any circumstance: a more serious seasonal strain, more people lining up for the vaccine then in previous years, etc.
Fast forward more than half a decade, with the U.S. and the world facing a novel strain, and we still can’t ensure the enough SEASONAL flu vaccine is available, much less a vaccine against the novel H1N1 strain.
Absolutely clueless.
…government should have found additional companies to produce the vaccine..
This is medical science, not a widget factory in Murfreesboro Tennessee producing muffler bearings. Any and all companies that can and could produce vaccine have, and we’re still behind.
My daughter received her ‘mist’ last Wednesday. No magic, no strings pulled. We monitored the DuPage County website for a schedule, called the 1-800 number, and made an appointment. No lines, no chaos. It was easy. If anything credit should be given to DuPage Health for establishing an appointment line versus first come first served. Forward thinking.
On the other hand my son can’t receive the ‘mist’, so we are waiting for our ped. to get the vaccine, but since the mist is all that is available we have to wait.
..and hope that cough isn’t something more serious.
I have four kids. 1 needs the IM shot, the other three can do the mist. I spent many hours finding a place to get them vaccinated. I spent hours with them in a line at a first come, first served cattle call. Didnt get the vaccination. Then the next day, drove from DG about 20 miles to a clinic. All 4 received their shot and mists, and it took about 11 minutes total. Now I made an appt thru Dupage for the mist for the 3, but am on the hunt AGAIN for the second IM shot. Meanwhile our school had HUGE absentee numbers last week. I called Mr. Zander to get the Districts plan for closing schools, if and when. Apparently “unless the building cannot function” is the requirement to close a school, even with absentee’s in the double digits percentage wise. hmmm…..on a good note, many of my friends kids are getting the swine flu and seem to be making it thru it fairly well. I am mainly worried about my little asthmatic….
Disturbing story, Denise. Brings to mind anti-Soviet propaganda films which showed hungry, ill-clad people standing in line for food.
I’m concerned when even physicians’ offices can’t get the stuff, or in adequate quantities. I’m concerned that there isn’t a better system for getting vaccine to the folks who need it. All those vaunted stories about government stockpiles of drugs to be instantly accessed in the event of a bio-terrorist attack start sounding like so much puffery when we can’t even manage to produce enough SEASONAL vaccine, much less H1N1 vaccine.
As for the school absences, that’s a concern, too. The state allows for districts to close individual schools without a losing state aid. And both districts have said they will do so if absences reach a critical level.
Looks like I’ll be on the phone today trying to ascertain what that critical level is. Maybe at the very least parents should be kept apprise of the absence rates so they can choose for their own kids the best course of action.
For those that are interested.
The DuPage County Health Department are now accepting appointments for the injectable H1N1 flu vaccine, for those who can’t receive the mist.
It took about 10 minutes to get through but we were able to set up an appointment for later this month. If our pediatrician happens to receive they’re allotment we can always cancel and go to them.
I saw the seasonal flu vaccine available at Caribu Coffee, Dominicks, Walgreens, and local clinics in late Sept. early Oct. H1N1 I have had to obtain thru the county next week. I have a friend who lives near Eastern and her child recieved the H1N1 at school 2 weeks ago. My little onea nd I have already contracted what were told was H1N1 and it was easier on her than me! She did recieve Tamiflu where as I did not.
And apparently many took advantage of the shot then. My point is that in years past, the vaccine has been available until at least early November. My own informal survey indicated it was gone here well before the end of October. And isn’t it a shame that many still want (need?) the vaccine and can’t get it? Obviously, this country has not yet mastered basic supply and demand. Nor will it, given market conditions, until the government guarantees a market for the stuff — a move that will prove necessary if all Americans are to have access to vaccines or other medication in the event of a health emergency.
My physician advised that if you got the flu shot in Sept/Early Oct you will need another/booster in late Feb when the flu risk is actually greater. The seasonal shot is needed now and should not be so difficult to obtain.
Interesting. That’s what I’d always understood and why I always wait until mid-October or early November to get my shot.
But when I asked whether the immunity from a September shot would last throughout the flu season, I was told by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health that a flu shot is good for “eight to 12 months.”
I’d never heard that before.
Keep in mind that for every person who is looking for flu shots, there is at least one person who does not want the shot, seasonal or H1N1 , because they believe that it will not work and/or it will give them the flu. Don’t know the exact percentage but I offer free shots to employees and well more than half do not want them. When we offered the shots in-house last year the nurse administering the shots mentioned to me that she never gets one. There are many people who do not share your (and my) sense of urgency.