|
Shortage impacts locals
Published November 5, 2009
Linda Briley has had some bad luck this month looking for flu shots.
The Kerrville resident tried her doctor. None available.
She tried CVS Pharmacy. Out of stock.
She tried H-E-B Pharmacy. Also out.
And she’s not alone.
Along with the rest of the nation, Kerrville is experiencing a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine, a shortage blamed on the H1N1 strain of the flu virus.
A government-mandated focus on producing the H1N1 vaccine has come at cost to seasonal flu vaccine availability, according to local health officials.
“I went to get a flu shot about a week ago,” said Briley. “My doctor didn’t have any, so he told me to try one of the pharmacies. They didn’t have any either. I called CVS, Wal-Mart, all the local pharmacies. They were all out.”
Briley will try her luck at Walgreens, which, as of Wednesday afternoon, was one of the last vaccination locations in Kerrville still offering the seasonal flu vaccine — by appointment only.
There is no doubt a shortage of seasonal flu vaccine, according to Betsy Colvin, director of quality services at Sid Peterson Regional Hospital.
“The shortage has definitely been caused by H1N1,” she said.
Colvin said there only are a handful of pharmaceutical companies that produce seasonal flu vaccine. These are the same companies that produce vaccine for the H1N1 strain of the virus, commonly known as swine flu.
A national priority has been placed on producing vaccines for the H1N1 strain of the flu, which created a panic last spring when it first appeared in humans. At the end of last month, President Barack Obama declared the H1N1 virus a national emergency in order to ease vaccination and prevention guidelines.
Although there was great concern about the virus when it first appeared earlier this year, the virus since has taken a milder course resembling the seasonal flu. But many still are on alert for fear the disease could mutate. Even at a milder strength, the virus still is expected to kill 90,000 worldwide this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Colvin said that the split resources necessary to produce both kinds of vaccine, along with dealing with public panic concerning H1N1 that provoked increased demand for seasonal flu vaccine, has led to a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine.
Sid Peterson Hospital doesn’t provide vaccinations for out-patients. It only vaccinates hospital staff and in-patients who have high risk factors. But so far this season, the hospital only has been able to vaccinate roughly half of it’s 600-person staff.
Although H1N1 has become the focus of vaccine manufacturers, Colvin said Sid Peterson Hospital saw its peak of H1N1 cases in early to mid October.
Likewise, local pharmacies that typically provide seasonal flu vaccinations have depleted supplies earlier than expected.
H-E-B received its supply of seasonal flu vaccine on Sept. 17 and was out of shots by Oct. 30.
“We gave over 4,000 flu shots during that time,” said Melissa Valadez, a pharmacy technician at the Kerrville H-E-B. “I’d say there were a lot more people asking for vaccinations this year, than last year.”
In addition to the regular flu shot, H1N1 vaccine also is in short supply. Colvin said it’s not expected to arrive locally until the middle of this month, and the supply is expected to be sporadic as manufacturers struggle to keep pace with demand.
Nationally, demand for H1N1 vaccine has exceeded the supply. According to the CDC, as of Oct. 28, a total of 19,442,600 doses of the vaccine had been ordered in the U.S., but only 16,870,000 doses had been shipped. For Colvin, that means many doctors and clinics won’t receive as many doses as they requested.
“We register for a certain number, but doses are distributed based on the need for high risk demographics, so we might not get as many as we’d like,” she said.
Given the shortage of both vaccines, health officials seek to provide doses to high risk populations.
For seasonal flu, children younger than five, senior citizens, pregnant mothers and caregivers are the groups considered most at risk, according to the CDC. H1N1 has targeted mostly young people, making those younger than 20 the primary recipients of H1N1 vaccine.
National availability of the flu vaccine
19,443,600 doses of the H1N1 vaccine ordered
16,870,000 doses shipped so far
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Oct. 28
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Comment
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo Reprints
Get Daily Times photos from the latest games and scenic locales.
Special Sections
Visitor's Guide
Real Estate Guide
Hill Country Life
Medical Directory
Home Directory
|
