Flu vaccine

[Tom]

Chris got her seasonal flu shot early at our local Safeway pharmacy. Cost $10, but she received a $10 coupon for store purchases, so her net cost was $0.

I procrastinated and, by the time I went for mine, they were completely out of vaccine. I hunted around various pharmacies and my family doctor, and was told "that's it, we won't get any more". Not good news, since I'm considered in the "high risk" category. Went back to Safeway, and the pharmacist started a list of hopefulls on a sheet of paper, with me at #1.

Meanwhile, H1N1 vaccine was even harder to come by. Several counties had long lines of parents and children waiting for hours, hoping they'd get the shot. Many were turned away.

Last week, just before leaving on our RV trip, I received a call from Safeway saying they had received seasonal flu vaccine and, since I was #1 on the list, I had my choice of appointments. Had my shot today, and the pharmacist mentioned that he'd received only a small number of doses. Cost was a copay of $11.09. As for H1N1, he held out no hope.

Is this nuts or what?

[aka Porky]

Tom, I received a seasonal flu shot in my doctor's office and they billed medicare and my insurance $60.  They don't expect to get any H1N1 before spring.

[Jim Godward]

Pat and I got our seasonal flu shots in early October.  Stopped by the Drs offce to pay a bill and asked about shots, they had just got them so we were first after the staff.  We had a minor epidemic of H1N1 in the schools but there was no vaccine for anyone here.  Our Dr said he wouldn't give one to me and with my lung problems I am very high risk due to the pneumonia complication.  Both he and the Pulmonologist agree on that so ....  They are not high on that particular vaccine.

Doesn't make any difference as the County only got about 1000 doses and that did not even cover the frst responders/Drs, etc. 

I'm sure glad it has not been more serious than it has been.

[Wendy]

We also got our seasonal flu shots at Safeway. Mine was free with Medicare, Mike's was $5 with his co-pay which was cheaper than driving 50 miles to the nearest VA clinic for a free shot. Plus we both got coupons for 10% off a purchase. As for H1N1, surprsingly, Colorado seems to have a fair amount of the vaccine, Grand Junction even made the national news about their supply. I wish central Oregon had more H1N1 vaccine....Dad's extreme high risk (pulmonary fibrosis) but there's no vaccine to be had, even for medical personnel and kids. My GP said that most people who were alive for the 70s swine flu probably have immunity anyway. I remember those vaccines....lucky me, I was in the Army and had no choice on whether or not I wanted to get the shot.

Wendy

[COMer]

Tried to get our flu shots in PA before we left and NOBODY had anything.  Got to FL in November and it was laying around everywhere.  Giving it out at Wal*Mart stores and all the local clinics. And free with Medicare.

Curious though.  I understood that anybody over 50 does not need the swine shot.  Where we have been they do not recommend it since it isn't necessary.   

[BernieD]

Curious though.  I understood that anybody over 50 does not need the swine shot.  Where we have been they do not recommend it since it isn't necessary.   

My understanding is that people over 50 are generally less at risk than other categories, so we are at the bottom of the list for available shots. And since the quantity of shots available is very limited, very few over 50 are getting them.

[Tom]

Our family doc emailed me weeks ago, saying I should get the H1N1 shot ASAP, because I was in a high risk group. Neither the doc nor any pharmacy around here has been able to get any vaccine, and they all say they have no hope of getting any.

I count myself lucky to have been able to get the seasonal shot yesterday; The pharmacist made it clear that he'd received only a very small number of doses, and they were being given to the folks like myself who got on a waiting list weeks ago.

I'd previously heard that several large companies with high numbers of employees had snagged virtually all the available vaccine.

[FrontrangeRVer]

The three of us also received our seasonal flu vaccine in early October.  We received ours at Walgreens...easy in and out....so to speak.    We hear that by now, the supply is getting thin.

The H1N1?....hard to come by, and we haven't received it yet, although my daughter is scheduled to get hers this week at her College.  There have been several clinic around town that are offering the vaccine to the high risk groups.  I have heard about 15K doses have been given out in our city.

We are also being told that the cases of the H1N1 virus are decreasing in our State.

[Marsha/CA]

Tim and I don't get the yearly flu shots, and did not intend to get them this year either.  We also were not planning on getting the H1N1 vaccine.  So, we aren't affected as much as others at the nonavailability. 

I guess we are a bit leery and probably read too many Tom Clancy books .  It seems like there was so much controversy regarding the H1N1.  Since we aren't in the high risk catagory, we decided not to get the vaccine.  However our daughter in law and granddaughter did get it, but they were about as hesitant as we were.

Because you all are seeing a wide variety of availability across the states, I wonder who handles the distribution?  Does each state/county request a certain amount of doses?  Or does the medical facility make that decision and does the ordering.  How does Wal-mart, Safeway and other non-medical businesses get their supply?

Marsha~

[scottydl]

The media has everyone in a frenzy for these shots that most people don't even need (High Risk category folks not included).  IIRC the annual stats for the regular seasonal flu shot say there are 150 strains of the flu virus floating around... the vaccine protects against 3.  So there's a 2% chance the shot might have any effect period.

We too are leery of the H1N1 vaccine, for a process (drug production) that is supposed to take years - they banged that thing out for mass production within a couple months.  What happened to testing it before distributing?  Our family physician told us that he's supposed to recommend the vaccine per medical standards, but shared that its effectiveness has not been tested and couldn't tell us in good faith that we or our children should get the vaccine.  

Additionally, I know several folks that have ended up with H1N1 this year.  Kids too, and 2 of my kids later had the same symptoms so they could have had it - but we never had a reason to take them to the doctor.  The symptoms were just like any flu, with a respiratory component that maybe hung on an extra day or two.  I'll take my chances.  

[aka Porky]

It seems to me that we didn't hear anything about "high risk groups" v/s "low risk groups" until there was an availability issue with the H1N1 vaccine.

I appears the best CYA maneuver, when one cannot deliver as promised, is to tell you that you didn't need it anyway.  JMHO

[kevin]

does anyone else get sick after they get a seasonal flu shot? My mom and myself both seem to get sick, and stay sick for several weeks after we get the flu shot. The last 3years we just didn't get them, both of us usually get sick 2times a year for about 4days and that's it. For us it's worth taking the chance I guess?

out Dr. said the samething months ago about not getting the h1n1 shot, we have had many in my sons school come down with it, and most if not all were back in school and ok in about 4-6day's. I guess this is one of those each to his own kinda thing?

[geodrake]

I stopped in a drug store when we were in Utah in Oct and got my flu shot.  No H1N1.  Later after returning home I visited our family doc for other reasons and mentioned the H1N1.  He indicated that those of us who were around in the 50's & 60's when swine flu was prevalent should have a natural immunity to H1N1 and he isn't recommending that we be vaccinated - high risk or not.

[Mc2guy]

Both my kids stay at home with mom (not old enough for school) and their pediatrician did not think H1N1 was necessary for them.  They did get the seasonal shot, however.

One of the concerns was that the preservative they are using is one that has been discontinued for most vaccinations and is considered by some to be potentially harmful in larger doses.  Our pediatrician indicated that there was little concern there as the preservative was found only to be harmful in larger prolonged doses over years of exposure.  Not sure what that means, but I'm not too worried about missing this one.

[Two gone rvn]

And ya know what really stinks?  The state of Florida is giving away the swine flu shots all over down here and a red blooded American cannot get them as all the Canadian snowbirds are in the long lines to get their free shot.  I think that stinks and is not right.  Anyone else feel the same way?
George

[scottydl]

You likely don't need the shot anyway, so don't feel bad that you're not getting it. 

[Trailer Park Casanova]

The vaccine isn't working.

Wife works at a major medical center, got the shot a month ago, and is in bed now with the officially diagnosed "Pig Flu".
Most the hospital staff is coming down with it too.

I had it as well.
Hangs on for about 2 weeks and comes on full blast in about 20 minutes.

Ya feel great one moment ,,,, then the grip takes ya over and drops ya in under a half hour from it's onset.

NyQuil at night, then Tylenol cold & flu to stop the brutally runny nose, congestion and sneezing and fever.
Nausea sticks around for about 12 hours.

Lots of sleep, and BTW, Sudafed will keep you awake with little help with your symptoms.

[RV Roamer]

The H1N1 vaccine works, but only against certain strains of the swine flu. It's the best protection available, but it's not a 100% thing. Maybe not even an 80% thing. 70%-90% effectiveness is considered "good' for vaccines.  Besides, the H1N1 does not even claim to prevent you from getting the flu - it's primarily supposed to keep the swine flu virus from killing you. From what i read, the CDC seems to be aiming for a 50% reduction in deaths due to flu.

We and the CDC probably won't know the effectiveness of this one until the flu season runs its course.

[Dick and Pat]

If the vaccine ever becomes available, we're trusting it will improve our chances of, as Gary stated, living through it.  Granted, no vaccine is 100% effective, but we'll go with the odds

[Trailer Park Casanova]

Wife has a very severe case of it.
Most the staff at her Hospital, over 3000 people, received the Vaccine 4 to 8 weeks ago as did she.

Official takes are it didn't do a thing.

I didn't get the shot and my case was much milder.
Our 8 year olds case was even milder.
But, I've had the grip in the past where the rotation of the earth slowed down it was so bad.

Maybe one's history has something to do with how your system handles it.

We canceled a Disney Cruise to avoid it,, but got it anyway.

That's OK,, $8K is too much for a Disney cruise.
At least I dodged that bullet.

[GKman]

Went to the local county health department and asked for a hini shot but they gave it to me in the arm.  Hope it works.