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BrendaK
member
Major Vent. Pedi-H1N1.
BrendaK
member
So, there was a news story this morning in the local paper that said that 1200 doses of H1N1 vaccines had been distributed yesterday to pediatricians and obstetricians in Elkhart County. Our pedi is one of very few in Elkhart County, and BY FAR, the largest. It quoted the director of the Elkhart Health Department by name.
Larry calls, bypasses the automatic flu-message, and talks to a nurse. She tells him that they are unaware of that article, and have not received any doses.
Larry calls the health department, speaks to the person who was quoted, and specifically asks if our pediatrician received any doses. He tells him YES.
Larry calls the pedi back, tells them that he spoke to the health department who told them that received doses. Nurse stammers a bit, and tells Larry that yes, indeed, they did receive doses, but they were reserving them for high-risk groups.
Larry was like, "I have a six-month-old, is that not high-risk enough?" To which the nurse tells him that no, our daughter is not high-risk enough.
Seriously. How do you even respond to that? Last time I checked, the CDC said that six-month-olds were in the high-risk group and priority for receiving the vaccine.
They're lucky it wasn't me on the phone.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Major Vent. Pedi-H1N1.
OMG. I'd be livid.
In our area they're saying that *under* 6 months is the high-risk group. Maybe they're trying to enforce that? Either way, that sucks.
This is nowhere near the level of frustration you have, but I'm annoyed because we're supposed to get doses in the next week or two and they're being given for free on campus to high-risk groups (I'm in that group as a care-taker of an under-6-month). Except I'll be out of town for two weeks and will likely miss out. So annoyed.
I would be livid too.
What annoys me are peeps like one of my co-irkers. There was a clinic here in the last week or so, he took his daughter and decided since he was already in line he'd get one too. Um, yeah, he's not high-risk.
rat-bastard-cheater!
Yeah, the article also talks about how a local Walgreens was given 600 doses, and they were just giving them to anyone who walked in and wanted one. NICE. They've since been confiscated and redistributed.
The whole thing makes my blood boil.
But...as a mom of a baby identified as one of a few kids on a "high risk list" by our pedi, I can't complain....and I am so, so grateful for that list. Similarly, I hope if there are any other younger preemies (God, I'd be terrified if I had a preemie who JUST came home during this season) as hard is it is to admit, they should get the shot before Andrew. (Or any other really sick kids.)
So while it sucks, I sort of understand and I don't blame the pedi. I just wish the vaccine was more available to everyone who needs it.
ditto kathy. what pediatricians consider "high risk" isn't the same "high risk" as the CDC guideling. they include those with pre-existing conditions that make them especially vulnerable to severe illness should they become infected with H1N1 (or the "regular" flu, or any illness, really). these kids include those who are immunocompromised because of prematurity, an immunodeficiency disorder, or b/c they are receiving immunosuppresant therapy for a disease, as well as those with respiratory conditions such as severe asthma or CF.
it is terribly frustrating when you want something to protect your child but can't get it. like kathy said, it is very unfortunate that not every parent who wishes to immunize their child for H1N1 is able to. it is difficult to hear of older adults (non-high risk) getting vaccinated easily, but i think all health care offices are making an effort to ensure that now only the *most* high-risk groups get what they need. in truth, while getting the flu certainly isn't fun, it is usually a fairly limited and fairly benign illness in most people so pediatricians are trying to ensure that those who would NOT have such an easy recovery are getting vaccinated first.
something interesting that was discussed at our resident's conference yesterday is that the "regular" flu vaccine likely confers at least partial protection for H1N1. it's not known to what degree, but those who received the regular flu shot may have some immunity for the H1N1 strain.
good luck brenda - hang in there!
I think I'd just be mad that I got lied to the first time.
We were supposed to get our H1N1 vacs this morning. Made the appts. 3 weeks ago but they told us to just wait b/c Maya had shots today anyway. Then we went in today to get them and they told us that they ran out yesterday. I feel bad for the nurses because I know that they are taking a lot of verbal abuse for something that they have no control over but I work with lots of college students dang it and I am so scared of taking this home to Maya!
Ditto Kathy and Marley. It's horrible that there's just not enough for everyone who wants one and there damn well should be, but high risk starts at the very highest risk in that category and works its way down.
I hope they get this flu vax crap figured out soon because it's just nuts.
I completely get it, yes there are priorities above my six-month-old.
I'm just extremely frustrated that they keep saying they'll have it "next week" and now they finally have it, and my six-month-old can't get it - FFS, she's in the high-risk category (though not "high-enough"). Plus, they're being shady about it which pisses_me off to no end.
Yes, she's a healthy six-month-old, but she's still a six-month-old.
It'd just be nice if we could get a decent shipment in. 1200 is nice, but we're still waiting on 20,000. And now that we got a shipment of 1200, our area will probably move down the priority list.
It's just craptastic. And I'm pre-menstrual, which isn't helping.
By the way, it'd be nice if Paige could get the seasonal flu and whatever protection that would offer - but my pedi is out of that, too. At least that's what they say. Maybe they have that, too, she just isn't high-enough risk to get that one, either.
good to know!
That really sucks, and I'd be pissed, too.
I didn't think that kids UNDER six months were supposed to get flu shots, H1N1 or seasonal. I remember at Ben's six month well-baby, even though it was April and flu season was winding down, they asked us if we wanted to give him a flu shot now that he was able to have one.
Brenda, can you take her to your county health department to get her vaccinated? That's where I took Ben earlier this week, as his pedi is all booked until December. I was able to get the mist...luckily, a shipment of mist had just come in that day, or I would haven't been able to get vaccinated. I'm technically not supposed to get mist, as I have a chronic health problem, but my GI cleared me to get it since I'm not on an immune suppressing drugs and am in remission. Getting flu could send me into a flare, which is why I really wanted to get protected.