A Day In The Life of a Pandemic: H1N1 Vaccine Allocations

In this Sunday's Boston Globe, Stephen Smith's article "A day in the life of a pandemic" tells the story of how the Department of Public Health tackles the complicated and difficult process of disseminating doses of H1N1 vaccine to doctor’s offices, health centers and hospitals across the state. Last Thursday, Smith had the unique opportunity to observe this task he called “equal parts science and art, supply and demand” firsthand when the state received word that we were being allocated another 60,000 doses of vaccine.

The article goes on to further explain the distribution process, highlighting the importance of matching the correct vaccine formulations with the appropriate patient populations. Smith also spoke with staff at the pediatric office of Mass. General West Medical Group in Waltham to get their perspective on the H1N1 vaccine situation.

We encourage everyone to read the article in full at, http://tinyurl.com/bglobevaccine

Please remember that while we encourage all residents to utilize the comments section on this blog, DPH will no longer be able to respond to specific questions and comments.

Comments

[Susan Furman]

I live in Waltham,Massachusetts and I work with children and I
am wondering where I can get the H1N1 vaccine?If anybody knows where to go for it please email me back at SuGFur@aol.com.Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Susan Furman

[Kim]

The distribution just can't be figured out. My moms doctors general practice has an abundance of the stuff (received over 500 doses now) and has vaccinated all children up to age 24 and elderly with all health conditions. My pediatrician has received 100 doses and has not even done young children. Grandma and Grampa would have gladly given up their dose. (Aren't they immune anyways?)

[ERR]

I agree with GG. I am 34 and do not fit into any of the high risk categories; however, my Doctor seemed to have a great supply and I was able to be vaccinated. Yet, my 6 year old nephew who falls into a risk category because of age is unable to get one. I would gladly give up my dose in order for my nephew or any other person in a high risk group to be vaccinated, but of course this was not an option as my Doctor could only treat his adult patients and the vaccine was offered to me. Why weren't the pediatricians given the first batches of vaccines for the 6 month-18 years olds? Once that group was vaccinated then the next group could be supplied (adults with health conditions, etc.)? I just don't think it's right that folks not fitting into these categories are getting vaccinated.

[cp]

I am pregnant with twins, live in Dartmouth, my OB works in Bridgewater/Raynham and as of Monday November 9 he didn't have any vaccines - I have been calling for the past 3 weeks.
So I agree with your comment - where are the vaccines south of Boston?

[BMS]

The flumist is sometimes more available in a particular area than the injectible vaccine. Kids with asthma cannot get flumist. But vaccinating healthy kids who can get the flumist will help slow the spread of the disease in the community, which will also help protect the most vulnerable kids.

Our pediatrician got the flumist first, and vaccinated any kids who could receive it, first come first serve. But when they got the injectible vaccine, they prioritized it for high risk kids, since that is the only kind of vaccine high risk kids can have. Seem sensible to me.

[gg]

why are all vaccination clinics NOT listed? i have seen several for pregnant women especially. i found this info on town websites. why is the vaccine not available on the south shore?

[CD]

If young children, especially those with asthma and other underlying conditions are the highest priority, why is it that vaccines aren't being distributed accordingly? The article says that town health boards are being allowed to distribute in loose accordance with those priorities and noted that vaccine was given to healthy children in one town. Also, I have now heard of more than a few schools and colleges receiving vaccine for older children. It also seems that geographic distribution to pediatrician's offices across the state is disproportionate. Everyone I work with who live in the city or to the west of the city has been able to have their children vaccinated (even older children with no underlying conditions)and the Globe article only speaks of towns/practices to the west of the city who are receiving allotments of this new batch of vaccine. I live on the South Shore and have a child under 2 with an underlying condition and have not been able to get access to the vaccine. I know very few people on the South Shore who have had access to the vaccine. This hardly seems fair.