Massachusetts residents - anyone gotten the swine flu SHOT?

[NikitaZee]

We're leaving for Disney next week and are trying to get vaccinated before we go. Anyone care to share where they have been able to find the vaccine in shot form? It's so frustrating trying to find any information whatsoever - no one I have called at hospitals, health dept, etc. seems to know anything. TIA

 

[MerMom60_94]

My husband was able to get a H1N1 shot yesterday from our family doctor in Cohasset. The thing is, they are only giving the shot to high risk people (he is a firefighter and sometimes works on an ambulance since he is certified as an EMT). Small children are considered a high risk, though, so even if you aren't able to get the shot your children may be able to get one. I am not sure if this is the policy of his office or if this is a policy that is set at a higher level. Good luck. PM me if you want the doctor's name and number.

 

[clori]

My drs had it yesterday but they might be limiting it to kids 2-9 right now. They are part of Cambridge Health Alliance.

 

[jfoofj]

I work in a hospital in MA and we haven't gotten it yet, and we work w/ flu patients. It is in pretty short supply, but I believe it will be available to me at work soon, though.... it might even be available now, I haven't worked in a few days. My son has his physical on Friday, not sure if his Drs office has it or not, I don't think any of us are getting the H1N1 shot, but we don't get any flu shots ever. I had a family member get very sick w/ a neurological disease within days of a flu shot and I have seen it happen in the hospital I work in. Unless his pediatrician can convince me, I think we will opt out.

I believe that the vaccine takes a few weeks to take effect, though, so even if you got the vaccine before you left, if you came in contact w/ the flu you could still get it, though maybe not as bad.

 

[C.Ann]

If anyone hears of the SHOT in upstate NY, would you please, please, pretty please, send me a PM? We're getting pretty desperate here..

Thanks - and good luck to others waiting for it as well..

 

[SeaSpray]

My DS21 has asthma and will be getting the seasonal flu shot as well as the H1N1 flu shot this Saturday at his pediatrician's office. We're on the south shore and probably is only available to patients of this particular office, but if anyone would like the name of the doctor, please send me an email or PM and I'd be happy to let you know.

I'm happy that DS21 will be getting both shots in a few days, but I'm really concerned about DS18 and want to have him get the H1N1 vaccine ASAP since he attends college and comes in to contact with the most people during the course of a normal day.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I'm just back to say I asked my husband and he said the limitations are per the government, not the doctors office. They are giving shots to healthcare workers and people with pre-existing conditions.

 

[kilee]

There are restrictions in all states on who can get it. I do think it varies state by state first. The restrictions on the shot are even tighter than on the H1N1 mist.

We are supposed to get our first shipment of shots on Monday but we;re only getting 100 doses. We got 500 doses of the mist 2.5 weeks ago....and they are going slowly to say the least.

Either takes 2 weeks to become effective.

 

[NikitaZee]

Thanks for the replies. My husband and I both have asthma, as does our 8 year old son. After calling our pediatrician's office for a couple of weeks and being told they had no vaccine, I finally asked for the doctor himself and he told me that my son could come in and get the shot due to his asthma. He wouldn't vaccinate my 2 year old or 5 year old - even with the mist - because his office is prioritizing high risk groups into even further high risk groups, and they didn't qualify simply because of their age.

This bothered me, because if I didn't pester and ask for the doctor, the front office would still be telling me that they had no vaccine. The doctor conceded that my son is high risk and should have been called, and I realize that these are challenging circumstances surrounding the H1N1, but now I don't trust my pediatrician's office as much. So, my son had his shot yesterday. Oddly enough - my husband's and my primary care physician has the mist - which DH and I can't get - and she offered to give it to our 2 and 5 year old. I'm a little leery of the mist, but I think I may go ahead and get it for them. Good luck to everyone else trying to find vaccine - especially you C.Ann - I see that you are as concerned as me!!

 

[cinmell]

Both of my daughter's received the H1N1 vaccine today. I wasn't planning on it but my 2yo had a follow up appointment for ear infections so that's why we were there. My 2yo (who will be 3 on 11/3) got the shot and my 8yo got the mist. Originally the doctor wasn't going to give my 8yo the mist and said she could only get the shot, but she reviewed her history and decided to give her the spray.

Up until this morning my husband and I were undecided on whether or not to get the H1N1 shot/mist for our girls. Our pediatrician said she feels very comfortable with the vaccine and her and all of the doctors in the practice received the vaccination. She also stated that the doctors with children had their children vaccinated and she is strongly suggesting to her siblings that her nieces and nephews should be vaccinated. I figured if I didn't get it today, we may not get it if there is a shortage and I would be kicking myself. I've heard that there are 3 doses but the doctor said to come back in 4 weeks for the second and final dose hoping that there won't be a shortage.

 

[C.Ann]

Good luck to everyone else trying to find vaccine - especially you C.Ann - I see that you are as concerned as me!!

Thanks.. Even though this flu (or any flu) would be life-threatening for me, my bigger concern is for my adult DD and my 11 yr. old DGD.. Obviously I don't "want" to die, but if I did - at my current age of 60 yrs. old - I've had a pretty darn good life, rough spots and all.. I want my family protected - they are the most precious things to me in the world - and it's so gosh darn frustrating that they can't seem to "get" that protection anywhere..

Sure - they may get lucky and not get terribly ill if they were to come down with Swine flu - but just that "chance" that one of them could end up being the next person to die from it is terribly unsettling.. There is NO way to predict who will or won't be the next fatality so for us it only stands to reason that we should make use of whatever is available to diminish (if not eliminate) that chance..

Can't get what isn't available though..

Are you having any luck on your end? Sure hope so..

 

[kldmom2000]

Our pedi had the mist 2 weeks ago, but my 2 girls need the shot due to underlying medical issues. They told me to call every other day or so to see when the shots were coming in. When I called Friday last week, they said they could get my girls in next Tuesday afternoon (10/27) but to call in the AM first to see if they got enough in before I brought them into the office.... I'm hoping like crazy they get enough in.... (my girls are 7 and 9) An announcement was made today that H1N1 is now present in our district's schools

I don't know if I will be able to track one down for myself... I am taking care of my mother 3-4 days a week and she's going through aggressive chemo right now for metastatic breast cancer. Her oncologist (they live in RI) asked me to look into trying to get one if I'm going to continue to be one of her caregivers this fall/winter.....

 

[JESW]

No - can't even get the regular one! I asked my dr. about it and he said the guidelines are very strict - but he was out of both anyhow and didn't know when/if he would be getting any more.

Jill

 

[NikitaZee]

Are you having any luck on your end? Sure hope so..

Actually, I have had some luck. After calling all over the state, every resource I can think of and making a general pest of myself on the telephone, I am getting my 2 year old and 5 year old the Flumist at my
primary care physician's office tomorrow. The kids' pediatrician would not give it to them - siblings of young infants were being given priority there. I must say that I have spent the better part of 2 weeks making phone calls - and ended up very lucky that my doctor is being kind enough to make an exception for my kids .

So, at least my kids will have some small amount of immunity for our trip. My husband and I will just be taking extra precautions - Purell, keeping hand saway from our face, etc. Although - my doctor said that we may get some kind of 'herd immunity' from the Flumist our kids are getting. I hope so. C.Ann I have read a lot about this - you have mentioned that you are 60 - seems that people of your age group are not being infected as much as the younger population - possibly due to previous exposure in your lifetime? Think of the positives that you come across in your research.

 

[C.Ann]

So, at least my kids will have some small amount of immunity for our trip. My husband and I will just be taking extra precautions - Purell, keeping hand saway from our face, etc. Although - my doctor said that we may get some kind of 'herd immunity' from the Flumist our kids are getting. I hope so. C.Ann I have read a lot about this - you have mentioned that you are 60 - seems that people of your age group are not being infected as much as the younger population - possibly due to previous exposure in your lifetime? Think of the positives that you come across in your research.

I'm SO glad that you're able to at least get something for your children!

At my age I normally wouldn't have to worry so much, but I have underlying health issues that would cause very serious problems if I were to get either type of flu.. If I could stay here at the lake (seasonal residence) where I'm not in contact with very many other people, I might be able to "slide under the radar" - but soon I will have to return to my DD's for the winter - and that's where my DGD lives.. Since the schools are the hot beds for this virus, if she doesn't get the vaccine, there's a pretty significant chance that she'll bring it home to the rest of us..

Right now there's no H1N1 shots available anywhere - nor are there any regular seasonal flu shots left.. (DGD and DD can not get the mist because of my health issues..)

So - we "hurry up and wait" - much like the rest of the country..

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

My son got the mist at U Mass Boston about three weeks ago...no big fuss nothing. No line.

 

[kirbydog48]

My DS 10 went for his checkup today and got the H1N1 mist and the seasonal vaccine shot. This was in Acton, MA. The doctor said they had about three doses of the H1N1 shot and plenty of the mist. Hope we don't have any problems from the mist!

 

[HeatherC]

Bumping this thread up again because I'm wondering if anyone else knows of a place to get it? We are in Central Mass.

Thanks!

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I am very high risk, and sick with my asthma for the past 7 weeks now. I did get the seasonal shot in sept. I am in the north shore area, and have my pulmonary doctor on it to get me the shot asap. I just got off prednisone, so I should be able now to get it if it does come in, but at my primary doctors, even the doctors and nurses have not gotten it yet! I am scared to death, being I have been so sick already!! and I am a adult college student!
so I am walking around trying to stay away from coughing, sneezing, wiping nose on sleeve kids!!!

If anyone gets it in the North shore area, please let me know!!

 

[DVCJones]

I live on the North Shore and have an appointment for Tuesday for my DD6 to get the H1N1 shot. She fits the criteria for the first tier for vaccination due a diagnosis she had as an infant. She is completely healthy now and only fits their protocol because of a past illness. However, my DD4 will not be given the vaccine because they will not vaccinate the "tier 2" kids until after "tier 1" kids are vaccinated. I will probably have to wait another week before she can get hers. They also have a 3rd tier....

I am a little worried about having to wait for my DD4. She attends daycare 5 days a week and I know it is only a matter of time before the H1N1 hits full force in my area.

It is very confusing. I work in a school and some of my coworkers have had their children vaccinated weeks ago. I also have students (middle school) who have already been vaccinated. I guess it varies between doctor's offices.

I plan on asking my primary care doctor for one when I go to see him Monday for my scheduled physical. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he gives me one.