Comments on: Want The Swine Flu Vaccine? That May Take Good Luck And Good Timing http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/29/swine-flu-5 WBUR is Boston's NPR News Station, featuring NPR news and programs such as Car Talk, On Point, Here & Now, Only A Game and Radio Boston. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Beth Mac http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/29/swine-flu-5/comment-page-1#comment-2894 Beth Mac Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:49:50 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11467#comment-2894 Where and when are priority groups going to able to get the H1N1 if not from their own doctor's? I am 7 months pregnant and OB is at a major Boston medical center which currently has no more vaccine left for OB pts. . vaccines were given to those who were fortunate enough to have appointments that were scheduled at time of availability regardless of due date. So for many of us who are further along with already compromised lung capacity due to stage of pregancy and will deliver during flu season with even higher risk newborns we are also out of luck . . As with the concerns above, cannot go to another provider as only existing pts can get the vaccine. Where and when are priority groups going to able to get the H1N1 if not from their own doctor’s? I am 7 months pregnant and OB is at a major Boston medical center which currently has no more vaccine left for OB pts. . vaccines were given to those who were fortunate enough to have appointments that were scheduled at time of availability regardless of due date. So for many of us who are further along with already compromised lung capacity due to stage of pregancy and will deliver during flu season with even higher risk newborns we are also out of luck . . As with the concerns above, cannot go to another provider as only existing pts can get the vaccine.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/29/swine-flu-5/comment-page-1#comment-2882 Melissa Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:44:37 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11467#comment-2882 Where can we find alternative places to get the flu and H1N1 vaccine? Despite being a physician and pregnant, I have been turned away from my hospital's occ health department (despite their having the vaccines), and my PCP and OB/Gyn office does not have either vaccine available. Where can we find alternative places to get the flu and H1N1 vaccine? Despite being a physician and pregnant, I have been turned away from my hospital’s occ health department (despite their having the vaccines), and my PCP and OB/Gyn office does not have either vaccine available.

]]> By: Tracy DeGregorio http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/29/swine-flu-5/comment-page-1#comment-2855 Tracy DeGregorio Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:22:30 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11467#comment-2855 This is really infurating, and I'm glad you wrote this article. The big problem is that, if your pediatrician doesn't have the vaccine, you have no alternate routes to pursue. Doctors will only vaccinate existing patients. If your doc doesn't have it, you're out of luck. I can't get my 3 year old healthy son vaccinated because my docs office didn't order FluMist, and they are reserving the shot for high risk patients (which I completely understand). Boston Childrens Hospital primary care center, however, does have supply of H1N1 FluMist intended for healthy children. Yet they won't vaccinate my son because he's not an existing patient; so their supply sits in their office right now, unused, even though more is forthcoming. I've sent emails to the DPH and the governors office asking this exact question--why was it decided that initial shipments would go almost exclusively to private health care providers? The DPH has essentially eliminated any alternate routes you may pursue. You are at the mercy of one doctors office. If you're pregnant and your doc doesn't have it, no other doc is going to give it to you because you're not their patient. Did nobody at the DPH consider this fact before this ridiculous distribution system was put in place? And why is it that other states with far fewer doses per 1000 residents available managed to distribute to doctors offices and run a few public clinics? Sure the lines were long, but you had some options to pursue. Of course these questions to my beloved State went unanswered. DPH wouldn't even post my comment on their "public" blog. This is really infurating, and I’m glad you wrote this article. The big problem is that, if your pediatrician doesn’t have the vaccine, you have no alternate routes to pursue. Doctors will only vaccinate existing patients. If your doc doesn’t have it, you’re out of luck.

I can’t get my 3 year old healthy son vaccinated because my docs office didn’t order FluMist, and they are reserving the shot for high risk patients (which I completely understand). Boston Childrens Hospital primary care center, however, does have supply of H1N1 FluMist intended for healthy children. Yet they won’t vaccinate my son because he’s not an existing patient; so their supply sits in their office right now, unused, even though more is forthcoming.

I’ve sent emails to the DPH and the governors office asking this exact question–why was it decided that initial shipments would go almost exclusively to private health care providers? The DPH has essentially eliminated any alternate routes you may pursue. You are at the mercy of one doctors office. If you’re pregnant and your doc doesn’t have it, no other doc is going to give it to you because you’re not their patient. Did nobody at the DPH consider this fact before this ridiculous distribution system was put in place?

And why is it that other states with far fewer doses per 1000 residents available managed to distribute to doctors offices and run a few public clinics? Sure the lines were long, but you had some options to pursue.

Of course these questions to my beloved State went unanswered. DPH wouldn’t even post my comment on their “public” blog.

]]> By: Sacha Pfeiffer http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/29/swine-flu-5/comment-page-1#comment-2844 Sacha Pfeiffer Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:23:38 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11467#comment-2844 Hello -- WBUR's Sacha Pfeiffer here, responding to the below note by Steve: I did not intend to suggest in my story that there is a "special" vaccine for pregnant women, or a specific vaccine formulation. Instead, federal public health officials advise that pregnant women receive an injectable vaccine rather than a nasal spray vaccine (FluMist). As the CDC's website explains: "Pregnant women should get the 'flu shot,' a vaccine made with killed flu virus. This one is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The other type of flu vaccine, a nasal spray, is not approved for pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu virus. Nasal spray flu vaccine should be used only in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. The nasal spray vaccine is safe for women after they have delivered, even if they are nursing." Hello — WBUR’s Sacha Pfeiffer here, responding to the below note by Steve: I did not intend to suggest in my story that there is a “special” vaccine for pregnant women, or a specific vaccine formulation. Instead, federal public health officials advise that pregnant women receive an injectable vaccine rather than a nasal spray vaccine (FluMist). As the CDC’s website explains: “Pregnant women should get the ‘flu shot,’ a vaccine made with killed flu virus. This one is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The other type of flu vaccine, a nasal spray, is not approved for pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu virus. Nasal spray flu vaccine should be used only in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. The nasal spray vaccine is safe for women after they have delivered, even if they are nursing.”

]]> By: Steven Mendes, MD http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/29/swine-flu-5/comment-page-1#comment-2843 Steven Mendes, MD Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:10:57 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11467#comment-2843 YOU MADE AN ERROR IN THE FOLLOWING: "Cambridge pediatrician Michael Yogman has the same dilemma. So far, his office has received a few hundred doses, but it needs a few thousand. And the vaccine comes in different types — some only for babies, some only for pregnant women, and so on." wHILE IT IS IN FACT TRUE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES, THE ERROR HERE IS THAT THERE IS NO VACCINE THAT IS SPECIAL FOR PREGNANT WOMEN. WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: I FEAR PEOPLE WILL HAVE HEARD YOUR BROADCAST THIS AM AND THINK THAT THEIR OBSTETRICIAN IS WRONG WHEN THEY DISCUSS THE VACCINE. THIS IS A VERY HIGH RISK POPULATION AND PREGNANT WOMEN REALLY NEED TO GET VACCINATED AND THEY DO NOT NEED ANY EXTRA ANXIETY OR FEAR. Thank you very much for your time, Steve Mendes Pediatrician Wareham Pediatric Associates Wareham, MA 508-295-8622; backlines: 508-295-1976, 295-5107 YOU MADE AN ERROR IN THE FOLLOWING:
“Cambridge pediatrician Michael Yogman has the same dilemma. So far, his office has received a few hundred doses, but it needs a few thousand. And the vaccine comes in different types — some only for babies, some only for pregnant women, and so on.” wHILE IT IS IN FACT TRUE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES, THE ERROR HERE IS THAT THERE IS NO VACCINE THAT IS SPECIAL FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
I FEAR PEOPLE WILL HAVE HEARD YOUR BROADCAST THIS AM AND THINK THAT THEIR OBSTETRICIAN IS WRONG WHEN THEY DISCUSS THE VACCINE. THIS IS A VERY HIGH RISK POPULATION AND PREGNANT WOMEN REALLY NEED TO GET VACCINATED AND THEY DO NOT NEED ANY EXTRA ANXIETY OR FEAR.

Thank you very much for your time,
Steve Mendes
Pediatrician
Wareham Pediatric Associates
Wareham, MA
508-295-8622; backlines: 508-295-1976, 295-5107

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