Is this legal? dr question.

[HelenePA]

That's between you and the mods.

is randomly quoting people against the rules?

 

[DancingBear]

well according to my/her dr they DO get first dibs.. they get it first and what ever is "left over" go to the normal insurance people... yes so they DO in fact get first dibs at our dr's office.. Does the govt get to buy as much of the vaccine as they want first and then do insurances get a chance to buy what ever is left or does it go on a first come first serve basis? how does that work? do you know because this whole thing is new to me.. I had no idea it worked this way until I asked the question..

See my post 38 above. According to the Commissioner of the MA Dept of Health, the government and doctors are all ordering separately directly from the manufacturers, and the manufacturers handle allocation and distribution. I think you doctor's office was not being very precise in their explanation.

 

[daisax]

I'm grateful that there's a mechanism to help prevent the spread of the virus in people without private insurance. They ride the bus and go to school and the mall and play at the local playgrounds just like your kids do -- NOT providing a means to cover them would be endangering everybody.

So for self interest if nothing else, it's a good plan. And if you get beyond self interest, it's not the child's fault that his/her parents don't have insurance, so a vaccine that might keep him/her off a ventilator seems to be something we shouldn't feel too put out to provide.

 

[HelenePA]

I'm grateful that there's a mechanism to help prevent the spread of the virus in people without private insurance. They ride the bus and go to school and the mall and play at the local playgrounds just like your kids do -- NOT providing a means to cover them would be endangering everybody.

So for self interest if nothing else, it's a good plan. And if you get beyond self interest, it's not the child's fault that his/her parents don't have insurance, so a vaccine that might keep him/her off a ventilator seems to be something we shouldn't feel too put out to provide.

I am grateful also I just wanted to know why they got preference with the vaccine. My kids go to school, my kids go to the mall, playground and everything else also.. One was born with a heart defect. She is at risk. would you like me to post pics of her as a baby on a vent in the ICU after open heart surgery? I fully understand the risks.. tha's why I was trying to get the vaccine at my dr's office I assumed (like I said you know what they say about people who assume) that if he had the vaccine they would get it.. I was wrong I didn't understand why.. I just wanted to add COVER the access people please.. but dont turn away others because we aren't on that type of insurance.. that's all

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

I'm grateful that there's a mechanism to help prevent the spread of the virus in people without private insurance. They ride the bus and go to school and the mall and play at the local playgrounds just like your kids do -- NOT providing a means to cover them would be endangering everybody.

So for self interest if nothing else, it's a good plan. And if you get beyond self interest, it's not the child's fault that his/her parents don't have insurance, so a vaccine that might keep him/her off a ventilator seems to be something we shouldn't feel too put out to provide.

I don't think the OP is mad that medicare CAN get the shot she's mad that they are the ONLY ones at her drs. office that can get it. If the drs. have it then it should be 1st come 1st served or health priority not medicaid priority IMO. The fact is our tax dollars paid for the vaccine and our kids can not get it but people who paid nothing into this system can get it that is wrong. All the kids should be treated on an as needed basis if there is a shortage. Again this is all IMO only.

 

[DancingBear]

I am grateful also I just wanted to know why they got preference with the vaccine. My kids go to school, my kids go to the mall, playground and everything else also.. One was born with a heart defect. She is at risk. would you like me to post pics of her as a baby on a vent in the ICU after open heart surgery? I fully understand the risks.. tha's why I was trying to get the vaccine at my dr's office I assumed (like I said you know what they say about people who assume) that if he had the vaccine they would get it.. I was wrong I didn't understand why.. I just wanted to add COVER the access people please.. but dont turn away others because we aren't on that type of insurance.. that's all

But perhaps the issue is that your doctor didn't order "enough" of the vaccine, or didn't place the order earlier or something, while the state program did so. Everything I've seen indicates that despite shortages, which are uneven at this time, there will be enough seasonal flu vaccine available for everyone who wants it before the height of seasonal flu season in January and February.

 

[Mermaid02]

But perhaps the issue is that your doctor didn't order "enough" of the vaccine, or didn't place the order earlier or something, while the state program did so. Everything I've seen indicates that despite shortages, which are uneven at this time, there will be enough seasonal flu vaccine available for everyone who wants it before the height of seasonal flu season in January and February.

I dont' think this is the case- the state supply just seems to "come first" this year.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I had no idea this is how it worked. Sometimes I like wearing my rose colored glasses thru life. Makes it a little easier somedays.

Crazy isnt it.. we are almost better going on the state plan.. I have friends who make more than us, have less kids, get the state plan and their coverage is better. Go Figure.. and hubby is a county employee. Heath Insurance is a big priority to us and that's why hubby took the job he did years ago even though it does not pay good. Sometime I wonder if we did the right thing.

You can be dammed if you do and dammed if you dont.

 

[wdwmom2]

But perhaps the issue is that your doctor didn't order "enough" of the vaccine, or didn't place the order earlier or something, while the state program did so. Everything I've seen indicates that despite shortages, which are uneven at this time, there will be enough seasonal flu vaccine available for everyone who wants it before the height of seasonal flu season in January and February.

You must order seasonal flu vaccine around April for the following season. Vaccinating for the seasonal flu is really up in my office compared to other years. This is because of the H1N1. I would guess it is that way just about everywhere. Unfortunately back in April we didn't know that there would be this HUGE demand for the seasonal flu. So hence, not enough vaccine.

I went to a drug rep dinner the other night. And while the talk wasn't about the flu, it did come up in conversation. Next year you may see the flu vaccine covering both seasonal and H1N1 in the same shot!!

 

[DancingBear]

You must order seasonal flu vaccine around April for the following season. Vaccinating for the seasonal flu is really up in my office compared to other years. This is because of the H1N1. I would guess it is that way just about everywhere. Unfortunately back in April we didn't know that there would be this HUGE demand for the seasonal flu. So hence, not enough vaccine.

I totally understand. My point wasn't really to blame the OP's doctor, but just to point out that the allocation is being done by the private manufacturers based on orders from private and public providers. The fact that the OP's doctor has vaccine for the state program but not for private payers is just a factor of who ordered what when, and where the demand is coming from. The situation could just as easily be reversed.

 

[DancingBear]

I went to a drug rep dinner the other night. And while the talk wasn't about the flu, it did come up in conversation. Next year you may see the flu vaccine covering both seasonal and H1N1 in the same shot!!

My understanding is that this very well could have happened this year, except that (1) H1N1 did not arise until relatively late in the process last year, and (2) they can only "fit" so many strains of flu into the seasonal shot, and the health authorities thought there were other strains that should be in there.

 

[wdwmom2]

I totally understand. My point wasn't really to blame the OP's doctor, but just to point out that the allocation is being done by the private manufacturers based on orders from private and public providers. The fact that the OP's doctor has vaccine for the state program but not for private payers is just a factor of who ordered what when, and where the demand is coming from. The situation could just as easily be reversed.

Trust me, no blame from me! Just trying to let people know why some docs may not have enough vaccine. Hindsight is 20/20. If we would have known then (April when we were ordering vaccine) what we know now, there would have been more vaccine!!!

 

[Fintastic]

Understood, but I would also have a problem with vaccine paid for by my tax dollars going to folks who have the means to pay for it.

The vaccine either needs to be free for all, or free for none. It's ridiculous to give it away for free to some, but charge those who work and make their own way. That's like punishing those who support themselves.

 

[sbell111]

The vaccine either needs to be free for all, or free for none. It's ridiculous to give it away for free to some, but charge those who work and make their own way. That's like punishing those who support themselves.

1) The H1N1 vaccine is free to all.

2) While your argument seems logical at first glance, you have to remember that what we are talking about is healthcare for kids on medicaid. The seasonal flu vaccine was purchased for these kids because they would not have been able to get it otherwise. Similarly, if one of them gets hit by a car, they can receive healthcare through the medicaid program. I have to assume that you are not proposing either that these kids should not have any health coverage provided to them or that the government should provide free health coverage to all.

 

[rwdavis2]

My pregnant friend has been on the hunt for the H1N1 shot, but in the Seattle area, supplies are really limited and she keeps getting told that the homeless and uninsured pregnant ladies have dibs. She's understandably upset.

How's all the Hope and Change going for everyone?

 

[wdwmom2]

The vaccine either needs to be free for all, or free for none. It's ridiculous to give it away for free to some, but charge those who work and make their own way. That's like punishing those who support themselves.

While I truly do understand what you are saying, it's not that simple. The practice I work at is approx 35% Medicaid patients. These patients are young, innocent children. There are many reasons they might be on Medicaid. Parents young and in school, parents low paying jobs don't supply insurance, parents who have good jobs are unemployed due to job loss, or my personal favorite..........parents are lazy AND know how to play the system. Flame me if you want, I do see it!!!!!

Regardless of the above reason of being on Medicaid, I personally could never turn away an innocent child due to the fact that his/her parent's can't/won't pay. They need protection from the flu just as much as people with insurance or people who are self pay.

 

[DVC Sadie]

While I truly do understand what you are saying, it's not that simple. The practice I work at is approx 35% Medicaid patients. These patients are young, innocent children. There are many reasons they might be on Medicaid. Parents young and in school, parents low paying jobs don't supply insurance, parents who have good jobs are unemployed due to job loss, or my personal favorite..........parents are lazy AND know how to play the system. Flame me if you want, I do see it!!!!!

Regardless of the above reason of being on Medicaid, I personally could never turn away an innocent child due to the fact that his/her parent's can't/won't pay. They need protection from the flu just as much as people with insurance or people who are self pay.

I agree 100%. No child should be denied vaccinations due to cost or the parents ability to pay.

 

[DizBelle]

While I truly do understand what you are saying, it's not that simple. The practice I work at is approx 35% Medicaid patients. These patients are young, innocent children. There are many reasons they might be on Medicaid. Parents young and in school, parents low paying jobs don't supply insurance, parents who have good jobs are unemployed due to job loss, or my personal favorite..........parents are lazy AND know how to play the system. Flame me if you want, I do see it!!!!!

Regardless of the above reason of being on Medicaid, I personally could never turn away an innocent child due to the fact that his/her parent's can't/won't pay. They need protection from the flu just as much as people with insurance or people who are self pay.

But the folks on self-pay or non-govt insurance ARE getting turned away.

 

[wdwmom2]

But the folks on self-pay or non-govt insurance ARE getting turned away.

Same way here where I work in Maryland. Right now we are out of federally funded vaccine. But we just got a shipment of private. So right now Medicaid patients are out of luck and commercial insurance and self pay can get it. But last week it was just the opposite. We had federal and was out of private so the commerical insurance and self pay were out of luck.

Believe me, I am tired of being yelled at, cussed out, you get the picture. All because we don't have the particular vaccine a person needs. We do the best we can. We have to follow the law.

True but unfortunate saying, "you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all the people all of the time".

 

[daisax]

I am grateful also I just wanted to know why they got preference with the vaccine. My kids go to school, my kids go to the mall, playground and everything else also.. One was born with a heart defect. She is at risk. would you like me to post pics of her as a baby on a vent in the ICU after open heart surgery? I fully understand the risks.. tha's why I was trying to get the vaccine at my dr's office I assumed (like I said you know what they say about people who assume) that if he had the vaccine they would get it.. I was wrong I didn't understand why.. I just wanted to add COVER the access people please.. but dont turn away others because we aren't on that type of insurance.. that's all

Sorry, OP, I wasn't directing my comment at you, but at those making veiled comments about what "they" are doing to the country, etc.

The problem with first come first serve is that people with the most access to healthcare would scoop it all up, leaving certain vulnerable populations uncovered. In a public health crisis that's not a wise approach, since we all intermingle to a certain extent. So there are programs like this to ensure that vaccine doesn't just go to the doctors' offices who are the highest bidders, and the largest percentage of all sorts of demographic groups have access.