My Ped is already out of flu shots!

[Aisling]

After reading all the flu and H1N1 threads here, I decided to play it safe and get my kids the regular flu shot. So I just called the doctor and was told they're already out of flu shots and there's no idea if they'll be able to get any more! Wow! I guess people really are concerned! And this is for the regular flu shot. I never remember my Dr being out of flu shots in the past.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Yep, mine too. Told me to call back in the beginning of November. Not sure if/when they'll be getting more.

 

[ClareH37]

There's been articles in the press here in the UK over the last few days that re. the normal seasonal flu shot 'experts' are 'cautiously optimistic' that the normal seasonal flu shot offers some form of cross protection with the new H1N1 flu, i.e. one might still get the 'new' flu but it will be less severe and complications should not arise.

I've been having the seasonal flu shot for nearly 20 years (I have various auto immune conditions) and I do think there is some truth in this, last month I came (unknowingly) into very close contact with someone who had the H1N1, also since then people at my work have come down with it, yet I have not caught it - maybe I'm fortunate but with my with auto immune conditions believe me, I normally get everything!

I get the seasonal flu shot every year (my dr. calls me in, along with other high risk patients), I had it 4 weeks ago, I've also been called in for the new H1N1 shot but I've declined that, however, according to my friend who is a receptionist at my dr's, since the news article about the seasonal flu shot, they've been inundated with people ringing up after it.

 

[cepmom]

I finally got around to calling about the flu shots today and was told they are out also. They told me to call every day to see if they got any in, then they will give me time to show up. Which is great, because I babysit 3 days a week and if the time they give me conflicts, then I am out of luck.

This is for H1N1; if they happen to get the regular flu shot in at that time, I can get that also. I guess if the regular shot isn't in, then I get to call every day for that one too. Fun, fun!

 

[james'mommy]

My ped never even got the vaccine. And they have no idea when they might be getting some. They have been refering people to CVS minute clinics. I went to 3 minute clinics this weekend and all of them are out of the vaccine.

 

[pozey]

Check with your County Health Department.

Our County Health Department does flu shots for free here. Sure, it's kind of a hassle, because of the times they are open and having to wait, but they usually have enough that they don't run out.

 

[C.Ann]

Same with DGD's pediatrician's office.. At this point (my DD being the only one who has been able to get the "regular" seasonal flu shot already), we're at the point where we may just forget about that one and concentrate soley on trying to find someplace that has the H1N1 flu shots available.. Seems like that's the more serious virus of the two anyhow, so we'll take whatever we can get.. Frustrating - huh?

 

[DawnCt1]

DS#4 and I went to Stop and Shop and each got a flu shot for $20 each. ($10 off with your Stop and Shop card). The pharmacist gave it to us. For us, that is cheaper than a co pay.

 

[Binnie]

DD's pediatrician AND asthma specialist's office blew me off completely last week and again this week. They're referring us to the health department.

I couldn't get ahold of anyone at the health department to tell me whether they still had them or no.

I was able to get one from Walgreens (today, in fact), but they aren't allowed to do one for DD3.

 

[Pigeon]

This is a normal part of the typical flu shot hysteria around here.

First everyone is told that if you don't get a flu shot immediately, you're going to drop dead. Then there's not enough vaccine, so you'll really be just fine and don't worry a bit, and it's only the elderly or sick who need the shot. Then there's more vaccine arriving that they need to get rid of, so you'd better get your shot ASAP or now you are vulnerable to instant death again (even if they've discovered that the shot isn't so effective for the particular strains going around).

I don't see much difference this year at all in terms of the seasonal flu.

 

[DawnCt1]

This is a normal part of the typical flu shot hysteria around here.

First everyone is told that if you don't get a flu shot immediately, you're going to drop dead. Then there's not enough vaccine, so you'll really be just fine and don't worry a bit, and it's only the elderly or sick who need the shot. Then there's more vaccine arriving that they need to get rid of, so you'd better get your shot ASAP or now you are vulnerable to instant death again (even if they've discovered that the shot isn't so effective for the particular strains going around).

I don't see much difference this year at all in terms of the seasonal flu.

There was concern that the regular, seasonal flu vaccine would be a bit less available because some companies were focusing production on H1N1 and that when that vaccine is available, more people will be focused on that, and "forget" the regular seasonal flu. There is no rush. The seasonal flu peaks in February and its only October. I hate shots and I wanted to get it out of the way. Also, DS is in school and it was a convenient time to get it done.

 

[chloe770]

Our pediatricians office has been telling people the same. DS6 has an appointment for tomorrow to get the shot, so I called today to see if they had it before I pulled him out of school. First they asked me what kind of insurance we had, then they asked me his age before they told me " No, we are only giving them to very young children." They only had like 140 doses and over 800 patients. I did tell them I was 8 months pregnant and the doctor really stressed that I get this for my son. After a few minutes on hold, DS is getting his shot tomorrow.

 

[kinntj]

My DD7 got her season flu shot on Thursday and was one of the last to get what they had in stock. I have to wait until they get it in to get the 5 year old vaccinated.

I already filled out the paperwork for the Health Dept coming to our high school to give both girls the N1H1 in November.

 

[Va-bear]

We ran into this last week. I ended up calling MANY pharmacies before I was able to find _1_ that had any (all the "biggies" were out - CVS, Kroger, etc - the place we found was sort of a small "Ma and Pa" type....might try some of those if you are looking). We were told they had a "few days worth" left , but DH took them that night and good thing, as they ran out very soon after they got their shots.

The problem there is two-fold. First, they made a LOT less of the seasonal flu shot than usual - companies switched over to making H1N1.... But, also, it's been on the news that places are running out, so now folks who might normally have waited a bit to get it (so more might have come in...) have gone to get it, so instead of the demand being spread out over a few months all of us want it in close succession, so places are running out 'early'. Sadly, a lot of places may not get more....

Good luck to all trying to find it.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I had not gotten the flu shot for the last two years but this year my son's pedi recommended everyone in the household get a flu shot since he is under 6 months and can't get one yet. My mom & dad got theirs through their workplace (they both work at a hospital) and my sister & I got ours through Walgreen's for $25 bucks a few weeks ago.

I feel bad when I hear that a lot of pediatrician's offices have run out because if you have a child under the age of 8 that's the only way they can get it. I know Walgreen's and places like that wont give the flu shot to anyone under 8, they have to get it through their own pedi. So if the pedi runs out what are the parent's supposed to do? I'm not one to be super paranoid about all the H1N1 stuff but I think everyone should get the regular seasonal flu shot at the very least so I'd be pretty annoyed if my kid couldn't get theirs.

OP, I hope your Dr. gets some more in so your kids can get the shot.

 

[Christine]

I had not gotten the flu shot for the last two years but this year my son's pedi recommended everyone in the household get a flu shot since he is under 6 months and can't get one yet. My mom & dad got theirs through their workplace (they both work at a hospital) and my sister & I got ours through Walgreen's for $25 bucks a few weeks ago.

I feel bad when I hear that a lot of pediatrician's offices have run out because if you have a child under the age of 8 that's the only way they can get it. I know Walgreen's and places like that wont give the flu shot to anyone under 8, they have to get it through their own pedi. So if the pedi runs out what are the parent's supposed to do? I'm not one to be super paranoid about all the H1N1 stuff but I think everyone should get the regular seasonal flu shot at the very least so I'd be pretty annoyed if my kid couldn't get theirs.

OP, I hope your Dr. gets some more in so your kids can get the shot.

Children can get a flu shot at any Health Department and you can go to the CVS Minute Clinics (if they have them in your area) because they are staffed with either physician's assistants or doctors, so the shot is treated as an office visit.

Other than that, you're correct--in so many states, children are very limited in where they can get a vaccine.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Children can get a flu shot at any Health Department and you can go to the CVS Minute Clinics (if they have them in your area) because they are staffed with either physician's assistants or doctors, so the shot is treated as an office visit.

Other than that, you're correct--in so many states, children are very limited in where they can get a vaccine.

I didn't know that. I'll have keep that in mind for when my son is older

 

[luvmy3]

My ds who has asthma gets the flu shot every year, so do my other kids. Our peds office is getting small batches of the vaccine and they are going fast. I have had to reschedule his appt 3 times to get the shot because everytime they are out of it. I was put on an email list but never got a single email when it came back in, now I'm in a call list but I don't have much faith that they will actually call. They are supposed to be getting the H1N1 in the end of this week, beginning of next so hopefully I'll get them in for that. I have never had this many problems getting him the vaccine, even in the year of teh shortage he was on the list to get it, but my other kids had to do without.