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PLATTSBURGH — Regional setbacks in receiving both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines have the area's health-care providers scrambling to find ways to meet their communities' needs.
Local health departments are just now receiving shipments of the vaccine for H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu, and will be distributing them to area providers who have registered with the state to provide the vaccine to patients.
Pediatrician Dr. David Cohen of Rainbow Pediatrics in Plattsburgh said they were notified that participating offices will receive it today or Thursday.
"Not every physician's office will be receiving it, but I'd bet all the pediatricians are."
NASAL SPRAY VACCINE
The Centers for Disease Control is recommending that all children between six months and 18 years and all young adults between 18 and 24 receive the H1N1 vaccine.
H1N1 vaccines began arriving in New York earlier this week, with a total of 91,000 doses expected to be received by counties outside New York throughout the week.
The initial shipments will consist mostly of the nasal spray form of the vaccine.
Larger shipments, including the injectable vaccine, are expected to be received beginning next week.
CDC officials say younger age groups will be highly susceptible to the disease because of regular close contact among people in school and work settings and a lack of exposure to the disease in the past.
"The last episode of swine flu in this country was in 1976, 33 years ago," Cohen said. "That may be why we are seeing younger people more at risk to this strain and why we're recommending that all children receive the vaccine."
Rainbow Pediatrics has not seen any cases of either H1N1 or seasonal flu so far this season, though the office is very busy with the typical respiratory infections that are common at the beginning of each new school year, Cohen noted.
The practice is expecting around 200 vials of H1N1 today or Thursday, but with a need for more than 4,000 doses to vaccinate every Rainbow Pediatrics patient, that number will fall short of what Cohen would like to receive.
Some of the initial shipment will be used to vaccinate staff members, since CDC is also recommending that all health-care providers receive shots to ensure they are available should an H1N1 outbreak become serious over the next few months.
Patients who have appointments will be asked if they want to receive the vaccine until the initial supply is used. The office will schedule clinics when they receive more doses, though how long that may be is still unclear.
VACCINE SHORTAGE
The office has also run out of seasonal flu vaccine and is not sure when the next shipment will arrive, adding to the frustration Cohen and his staff are feeling over the shortages.
"We've scheduled clinics for the third week of October, but if the vaccines don't come in, we'll have to call everyone up and reschedule. It's creating a lot of stress for the entire office."
SCHOOL CLINICS
Dr. Roy Slaunwhite from North Country Family Physicians in Saranac Lake said his practice has not seen any flu cases from the area's public schools, though there has been an outbreak of H1N1 at Potsdam colleges.
"We've been talking with patients about what's going on with H1N1 and what's going to be available to them, but we really don't know what we're going to receive from the Health Department and when," Slaunwhite said.
He believes holding clinics at area schools would be the best way to reach as many children as possible, but everyone is still waiting for specifics.
North Country Family Physicians still has the seasonal flu mist vaccine available but is also waiting for more shipments of the shot.
REQUESTS RISE
Elizabethtown Community Hospital offers seasonal flu vaccines in its primary-care clinic and serves the local needs for families with children.
"There seems to be more of a request for the flu vaccine this year than other years," said Julie Tromblee, assistant director of nursing for the hospital.
"We're booked with requests for flu shots for both children and the elderly."
The hospital has not specifically heard when it will be receiving the H1N1 vaccine but will keep its staff and patients informed, Tromblee said.
TWO SHOTS FOR SOME
The CDC is suggesting that all children 10 and under receive two H1N1 shots one month apart to provide the best protection against the unique influenza strain.
Officials also recommend that children under 8 who did not receive the seasonal-flu vaccine in 2008 receive two shots this year.
Children can get both shots at one time, Cohen noted.
Officials also continue to stress the need to take preventive measures, such as washing hands regularly and coughing or sneezing into the sleeve and not into hands. People should stay home from school or work whenever they are not feeling well.
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