Comments on: The other flu vaccine

By: Businessman

Businessman — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:53:43 +0000

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.

By: Elaine Johnson

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:43:34 +0000

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.

By: donkeyhoeti

donkeyhoeti — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:35:14 +0000

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.

By: Elaine Johnson

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:05:09 +0000

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.

By: KellyDGM

KellyDGM — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:46:03 +0000

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.

By: Meat

Meat — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:11:23 +0000

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.

By: Elaine Johnson

Elaine Johnson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:41:25 +0000

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.

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:18:01 +0000

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….

By: Meat

Meat — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:07:22 +0000

…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.

By: Elaine Johnson

Elaine Johnson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:48:34 +0000

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.