Comments on: FAQ: Swine Flu Vaccine Availability

By: John H. Courtney

John H. Courtney — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:16:58 +0000

Is seasonal flu vaccine available any place in western MA? The only clinics I can find offer only H1N1 vaccine. I am 80 years old. If both vaccines are available should I get them both the same day?

By: James

James — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:45:09 +0000

I have an underlying condition (heart disease) and have been frustrated with how the state is handling this public health issue. I would have gone to the Boston clinics but they were not open to outside residents. I live in Waltham, a city of 60,000 and the city web site says to call 211. When I called 211 I got someone who had a baby crying in their lap who went down an alphabetical list saying what towns were having clinics (and most of those were only for town residents). We went down the list Malden, Medford and I asked about Newton since it’s a neighboring city (and more affluent) but again, only open to city residents. Zip Code is determining who will get the vaccine and who won’t…thank God it’s not a crisis. This is no way to run a public health agency.

By: David

David — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:11:01 +0000

I am not in a high risk group but was able to get my H1N1 flu shot in Alston. The clinic was very small with parking for only 12 cars. However, the turnout was light when I arrived and I was able to get my shot 5 minutes after I arrived. If this is like the other clinics, it is hard to believe that the hundreds of thousands that should be vaccinated would ever get their shot. Most of the other clinics on the state flu locator website have restrictions for town residents only. Could’t the state make doses available to doctors and the drug store clinics so that more people could get the shot?

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:50:28 +0000

It may be hasty to determine that interest has waned. I personally wanted to take my kids to the West Roxbury clinic. However, it was held less than 28 days from when I finally was able to get them the first shot through my pediatrician’s office, so they were not yet eligible for a booster. BTW – That office has been having a very hard time getting enough vaccine to meet the demand and has continued to ration by risk. Also, both my husband and I want to get vaccianted, but our Dr’s office never got any vaccine, and all the clinics have been for high risk only – which we are not. So, in our experience availability continues to be an issue.