Got the H1N1 shot today

[alienlovechild 75]

So all the people here who got the H1N1 vaccine were in high risk categories? If not, why is the Federal government not immunizing risk groups first instead of this haphazard mess of distribution?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So all the people here who got the H1N1 vaccine were in high risk categories? If not, why is the Federal government not immunizing risk groups first instead of this haphazard mess of distribution?

Because the Federal Government merely allocates available doses to the states and the states then make the decision on who gets the vaccine.

[alienlovechild 75]

So all the people here who got the H1N1 vaccine were in high risk categories? If not, why is the Federal government not immunizing risk groups first instead of this haphazard mess of distribution?

Because the Federal Government merely allocates available doses to the states and the states then make the decision on who gets the vaccine.

I think most of the states referred to the CDC for guidance but my pregnant wife has yet to hear anything from her doctor who said they would contact us when the vaccine is available. I just have a hard time believing most of the people getting the vaccine first were in the high risk group.

"CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine first. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems."

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/pub...tion_qa_pub.htm

Just as I thought. The vaccinations aren't given out on strict guidelines. A few healthy adults in the line.

"Sometimes they were healthy adults or senior citizens instead of kids, pregnant women and people with health problems.

Before Los Angeles County health officials stepped up screening at their flu clinics, Natalie Thompson sailed through the long line and got the vaccine along with her 8-year-old son, even though she's not in one of the priority groups.

"If I can get it, I'm not gonna say no," said Thompson, 35, of Hollywood Hills.

Another mom, Katy Radparvar, didn't say no either.

"Our doctor doesn't have it yet," said the 41-year-old woman who was vaccinated along with her three children at a public health vaccination site in suburban Encino last week.

Public health officials don't want to be vaccine police. Many don't turn anyone away who wants the vaccine, though some locations are tougher than others.

"For many this is a frustrating process and we really sympathize with those who show up at a clinic and can't get vaccinated," said Los Angeles County public health director Dr. Jonathan Fielding.

Across the country, thousands have waited in line and many have been turned away, as manufacturers have trickled out the slow-to-produce vaccine. Things are improving, and now about 25 million doses are available, the government says.

Aware of scant supplies up front, Santa Barbara County clinics administered their 4,400 shots to pregnant women only. San Diego County is only immunizing those on the priority list, but is taking the word of residents.

Nevada is using the honor system with vaccinations offered on a first-come, first-served basis to those who identify themselves as at-risk for the H1N1 virus.

"We really are hoping people go on the honor system and let us immunize people in the priority groups," Southern Nevada Health District spokeswoman Stephanie Bethel said. "I think, for the most part, it's working."

In Oregon, Portland metro area officials say pregnant women and children are moved to the front of the lines and inoculated before the general public.

"We assertively asked those who were not in the priority group to move to the end of the line, so when we ran out of vaccine, those people who were left were those who were not at risk," said health officer Dr. Gary Oxman. "And people have responded well to it."

The vaccine shortfall prompted Wisconsin state health officials this week to remind local health agencies "to strongly encourage" announcements about the limited vaccine supply and the focus on vaccinating high-risk groups first.

Robert M. Pestronk, executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said local health departments are doing the best they can under challenging conditions.

"Despite those best efforts, it doesn't surprise me that people who are not in high priority groups are appearing at clinics for vaccination," he said. "It's difficult to restrict vaccine simply to the priority groups."

One of the doctors who helped draw up guidelines for vaccine priority groups also isn't surprised at how things are unfolding.

The government's vaccine advisory panel "did not expect vaccine police to be set up around the country," said Dr. William Schaffner, a flu specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who is on the panel.

If vaccine demand is low in some locations, it makes sense for non-priority groups to get it instead of wasting the supply.

"I don't consider it a problem," said Schaffner. "I consider it more of a problem if vaccine is left unused."

That's what happened in the 2004-05 flu season when there was a shortage of seasonal flu vaccine. Many older healthy people refused to get the shot so that those who had health problems would have access to vaccine.

"One of the things that was learned was to be careful about turning people away because we might end up with a lot of vaccine at the end of the year," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention But right now, there aren't many vaccine leftovers to be found. Every morning, Anne Jenkins of Shreveport, La., makes a round of calls to ask doctors and health clinics if they have the injectable swine flu vaccine. She is 23 weeks pregnant."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,570485,00.html

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So all the people here who got the H1N1 vaccine were in high risk categories? If not, why is the Federal government not immunizing risk groups first instead of this haphazard mess of distribution?

Because the Federal Government merely allocates available doses to the states and the states then make the decision on who gets the vaccine.

I think most of the states referred to the CDC for guidance but my pregnant wife has yet to hear anything from her doctor who said they would contact us when the vaccine is available. I just have a hard time believing most of the people getting the vaccine first were in the high risk group.

There's an overall shortage of the vaccine - not just here in the US but on a global scale. If there is distribution of the vaccine to people other than those identified as high risk by the CDC, then some states may have to answer to their citizens. Again, as far as I know, the US government does not dictate to the states how the vaccine distribution is administered.