Can you stand another flu shot vent??

[SeaSpray]

I am so mad right now. DH and I had appts to get flu shots for Nov 2. I made these appts a month ago. That was before the big shortage, BUT the woman on the phone told me that they were only making appts for how much serum they had ON HAND, so they wouldn't have to worry about running out. So at the time I made the appts, there was enough for us. A week or so ago I got a phone call saying that MY flu shot was cancelled. This didn't surprise me because of the big shortage, and I am not a priority patient. No one ever cancelled DH's appt, and I figured he'd still get his shot since he has diabetes and some other health issues. This morning I called for something else and while I had them on the phone I figured I'd double check about DH's flu shot appt. Now they're telling me that they have NO flu serum left, not even for the appts that were already made, when they supposedly had that serum there in their office. All this time it was bad enough that DS13 and I couldn't get a flu shot. Then I found out that DS16 (who has asthma) can't get one, and now DH can't get one!!

We ALWAYS got flu shots, every single year, not just when they made a big deal out of the flu last year. It annoys me that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE screwed up the serum, and that this country can't supply it's own population with something as simple as flu shot serum. And I know all about how it's not profitable and that's why the US pharmacies don't bother with it. That's not the point. MY point is that now I have to worry about my family catching the flu, especially my husband and son who have health problems to begin with

I am so freaking angry about this!!!
Sorry, I just needed to vent.

 

[disneyworld!]

on Oct 15th I called my dr office to reschedule my appt which was Nov 3rd. I wanted to make it for Oct 28th. she informed me that they are not to sure if enough will be avab. and told me that Stop & Shop was going to be doing shots that day @3pm(this was 830am when I called) so I spent all day going in and out of S&s waiting...I finally got a number #40 out of 500.
I did get my shot....I have severe chronic Asthma. so I called my dr office to let them know-take me off the list for there clinic. she THEN told me that the clinic had been canceld!
so my Dr's office to did not call anyone.....it was not right, many people could have tried to make "other" plans!!!

but hang in there, sounds like there is more vacine on its way in! should be coming in on a weekly basis is what I just heard on the news! might want to keep an eye out at local stores to!!
good luck!

 

[Meriweather]

My DH also has chronic asthma......no flu shots anywhere around.
He got a note from his doctor so if he stumbles on one he can show he needs one.....like that is likely to happen

 

[Toby'sFriend]

sorry SeaSpray.

I think that if I had a child that definately needed a flu shot, we'd be taking a quick weekend trip up to Canada. Would that be possible for you?

 

[SeaSpray]

We'd have to make it a weekend trip because we wouldn't have time to drive there and back in one day, but it is something I am definitely considering!!! I hope this will be the last year that any of us have to worry about getting flu shots.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, it is an election year, and therefore it is the Presdient's fault that someone somewhere screwed up.

I understand your concern about your husband. For the rest of oyur family though, rest assured that a normal healthy adult or teenager will survive the flu, should they get it.

I am not a huge believer in flu shots. It has been my experience in the past that everybody gets the flu shot in the fall, and come January, the strain of flu that is most prevalent is "not one that was in the mix that was in the vaccine".

Been a nurse for 21 years, cannot even begin to tell you what kinds of things I have been exposed to, have never caught the flu.

A lot of the shortage is probably being caused by panic at this point...everybody is hearing do much about how there's not enough flu shot that what's out there is being depleted(or going to members of Congress ).

 

[MerryPoppins]

This makes me steaming mad. No one here in my household that *needs* the shot. Although, we all have seasonal asthma that is worse if we've been sick, we don't consider it to be a chronic health problem. I do hate that they are not available to us, when the flu was so bad last year, but oh well.

I just don't see that if half the shots are missing, how so many people can't find a shot. After all, they aren't offering them to those of us who are not high risk, so why aren't there enough to go around?

My in-laws really need theirs. He is a stroke victim that is very weak and wheelchair bound. She is his only caregiver and can't afford to be sick. Can they find anyone who will give them the shot without waiting in a 3 hour line (at least)? No! That's not an option. He spends much of his time in bed and has to go to the bathroom frequently. She says she guesses they'll just stay home all the time and pray that they won't get it.

My mom has bad asthma and is over 65. She is going to get in the line at our hospital today. I have my fingers crossed that she'll get it at least.

 

[Joanne M]

I called my doctor last week about Flu Mist. They are sending me a prescription so I can pick it up. I am not high risk and I fall within the ages recommended for Flu Mist. So that's what I am doing this year about my annual flu vaccination. Can't be much easier than that, and I am not using an injection that could go to someone in one of the risk categories that should be getting the injection.

I do notice that since getting a flu shot every year, I do not get as sick in the winter as I used to. It could be a coincidence or placebo effect, it's better than spending 2 weeks at home on the couch.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I neglected to say that I'm sorry the OP is having to go through this. I was too busy venting about our problem!

Also, what ages is the flu mist recommended for? I might suggest that. I wonder if we could pick that up for the two of them and they could do it at home or in the doctor's office?

 

[momof2inPA]

MerryPoppins, if you have any history of asthma, they will not give you the flumist. At least that's what my doctor told me.

 

[Nancy]

I'm sorry that you are going through this because in my area no one sems to be having problems getting their shots. My Dd (11) tells me that kids are getting their shots because they all talk at lunch and they talk about who left school that day to get their shot. My store did cancel their flu shot clinics, but others have kept theirs going.

I also have never had a shot and neither have my kids, we are all healthy and do not fall into the risk pool. We also have not been sick with the flu in along time...my kids not since pre-school age and me not since I was in my early 20's...I guess we are just lucky. Hope it keeps up. (maybe I should knock on wood! )

And MerryPoppins I can see why you are upset...if my Mom (going through chemo) couldn't get her shot I'd be angry too.

 

[Joanne M]

The ages for Flu Mist are between 5 and 49, I believe. You can not have any risk factors, because it uses live attenuated virus particles. You must have a healthy immune system to use Flu Mist.

Here is a link to their site for more info...FluMist

 

[totalia]

I realize your mad but the last I heard, the US gvt is talking about making it illegal to give the shots to anyone who is not in the high risk range. For all you know, they may have already done so.

It's been all over my tv for the last week.

Afraid your just going to have to suffer through if you get the flu.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Originally posted by Joanne M
The ages for Flu Mist are between 5 and 49

Shoot. My in-laws are over 49. Well, it was worth a try. I might check into the cost for my kids, though.

 

[Hillbeans]

Not sure if anyone is around the WDW area, but when I was in FL this past weekend, I saw a sign in the window that they had a flu shot supply at the Buena Vista urgent care at 8205 Worlds Fair Drive. If you need one and may be near that area, i'd give them a call. I don't know what type of supply they have, but they did have a note in their window saying they had them.

 

[Beth76]

I've never been concerned about the flu before (never had a shot either). This year I have a 3 month baby who can't be vaccinated, but is in the "high risk" category. I also have a 3yo who goes to preschool. I've had people tell me that my older son should be able to get the shot since he can give the flu to my younger son who can't get the shot. The nurse at my ped's office said NO. So, now I'm really worried about the flu.

She did tell me that the flu shot company will be sending out 4 million new doses in January and that my younger son can get the shot then, if their office gets any. But, that could be too late.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Beth 76, I would check again about getting the flu shot for family members of an infant. The baby can't get one so the rest of the family needs to minimize the chances of the little one getting it. Take it seriously, I had an infant get very sick with a virus and had to be hospitalized for a few days...I think your family qualifies under current guide lines. It's worth a few calls to find out. Amy

 

[disneysteve]

I just wanted to throw in a perspective that you don't hear too much about in the media.

This year, even with the shortage, the US will vaccinate as many people as they did in 1999. The reason for the "shortage" is that in the past few years many more people, lots of them healthy and low risk, have started getting flu shots which has increased the demand.

Obviously, this info doesn't help anyone who needs a shot and can't get one. But it does show that the situation really isn't quite as dire as it may sound on the evening news. If the healthy folks can skip getting a shot this year, the supply for the high risk patients may be reasonably close to normal, though delayed in arriving.

 

[CheshireVal]

I guess I'm just sort of ill-informed about medical issues, but.... I remember a time when there was no flu shot, and that wasn't too long ago!

How can it be such a big deal now that people aren't able to get one?

I realize there are some high-risk groups that are the exception but, I mean, it's the flu. Come on.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by CheshireVal
How can it be such a big deal now that people aren't able to get one?

I realize there are some high-risk groups that are the exception but, I mean, it's the flu. Come on.

Flu kills about 36,000 people each year. That is more than AIDS and more than many other diseases. The number of flu deaths has climbed dramatically in recent years mainly due to the increasing elderly population.

For the average healthy person, the flu isn't a terrible problem, but for the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, it can be serious or fatal.