Local death heightens focus on vaccine

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October 15, 2009

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG The Press Republican Thu Oct 15, 2009, 06:14 PM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — With one H1N1 death accentuating the need, officials continue to struggle with increased vaccine demand and limited supplies.

This week, as the virus claimed the life of a 28-year-old Plattsburgh woman, local physicians have seen a spike in inquiries about the vaccine and are now waiting for the next round of shipments to arrive.

“People are looking for it, but, unfortunately, there’s not an adequate supply in this area yet,” Dr. David Cohen said Thursday. “We just don’t have enough vaccines.”

LESS THAN EXPECTED

His office, Rainbow Pediatrics in Plattsburgh, recently received 50 doses of the nasal-spray vaccine, which was only a quarter of what he originally expected to get.

Another challenge, Cohen said, was that “we were not able to use it (the nasal spray) in anybody who is high risk,” such as asthmatics and those suffering from other underlying medical conditions, because the office has yet to receive the inactivated shot.

Nasal vaccines can be given only to healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49.

Of the vaccines received, Cohen said, as of midday Thursday, he had about 10 doses left, “which will probably go in the next day or so.”

STILL WAITING

Dr. Roy Slaunwhite of North Country Family Physicians said his offices in Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake and St. Regis Falls have yet to receive any shipments, despite a growing demand in those communities.

“I expect we’ll get some soon. People want it, and it’s something we’re willing to do; we just don’t know when we’ll get any.”

Despite the noticeable increase in demand, Cohen said, some patients “have declined to get it, which is a shame. It’s a safe vaccine, and it’s very effective.”

He expects to receive another shipment as early as next week.

WORKERS VACCINATED

CVPH Medical Center, where the first death was reported, held their first internal clinic Thursday, and more than 900 employees and volunteers were vaccinated.

Hospital spokeswoman Chris Blake said the facility will host additional employee clinics as more vaccines become available.

Clinton County Health Department officials said the first round of 200 nasal-spray vaccines arrived in the county Oct. 5 and were distributed to pediatrician offices. Another 200 went to the Health Department for health-care workers.

Now, vaccines are being sent directly to doctor’s offices.

Both hospital and heath department spokespersons have said that the first H1N1 death involved an underlying medical condition, but officials on Thursday refused to elaborate on what that condition was or give any details at all on the patient, citing state directives.

Cases of H1N1 have continued to be confirmed locally, and officials have said that the other instances have been mild, so far.

No schools or places of employment have been closed since the “second pandemic wave,” Heath Department officials said in their latest update Thursday.

SEASONAL FLU

The area has also seen delayed shipments of the seasonal-flu vaccines and has run out of the supply it did have because of the unexpectedly big demand this year.

That has led to a temporary suspension of public clinics in Clinton County. Flu clinics scheduled next week for Peru and Keeseville have been canceled.

Health officials have urged people to get seasonal-flu shots this year so hospitals won’t have to deal with two flu barrages at the same time.

As for the H1N1 vaccine, Cohen said it’s now a waiting game that has left both him and patients “keeping our fingers crossed” for more.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com