Posted 6:33 am Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Officials Say Many Out Of Luck As Area Clinics Feel Flu Vaccine Shortage
By BRIAN PEARSON
Business Editor
Broadway Square Mall’s series of flu-shot clinics fizzled at the halfway point. Bethesda Clinic in Tyler learned Friday that it was not getting the 2,000 seasonal flu shots it had ordered.
Business Editor
Broadway Square Mall’s series of flu-shot clinics fizzled at the halfway point. Bethesda Clinic in Tyler learned Friday that it was not getting the 2,000 seasonal flu shots it had ordered.
Tyler Urgent Care was told Monday not to expect any additional flu-shot vaccines. The syringes at Tyler’s two major hospital systems have all but run dry, too.
Those wanting a seasonal flu shot this year might be out of luck, health care representatives said Monday.
“What I’m being told is that the H1N1 production caused the seasonal flu production to be interrupted,” said Todd Anderson, Bethesda Clinic administrative and finance director. “Not as many seasonal flu shots were produced. There were 12 million instead of 25 million.
“Much of that vaccine went to the larger companies and hospitals. Our vendor, without notice, just informed us that they were not going to order our pre-order of 2,000.”
Anderson said his clinic was trying to get FluMist to satisfy patient orders.
Cindy Myric, Tyler Urgent Care’s main registered nurse, found out Monday more vaccines would not be coming.
“We got a call from our manufacturer … and they said they are not shipping any more of the seasonal flu vaccine and they’re putting all their efforts into H1N1 production,” Ms. Myric said. “We’ve run out.
“It’s unfortunate. It’s not a good situation. Seasonal flu is just as dangerous as H1N1.”
She said that as of Monday, her clinic had seen 148 confirmed H1N1 cases in the past two months and no seasonal flu cases. The clinic has ordered about 1,000 H1N1 shots, but it is not known whether the federal government will provide them, she said.
“They kind of pick and choose how many they give depending on demand in the area,” Ms. Myric said.
Two weekends into what was supposed to kick off an annual series of weekend shot clinics at Broadway Square Mall, the provider, WellCheck, announced Wednesday that it had to call off the program due to a national shortage of seasonal flu vaccine.
“We realize that the vaccination shortage is not just a WellCheck issue, but it is a national issue,” Jack Tawil, CEO of WellCheck Medical Centers, said in a news release. “The World Health Organization says that this is the first global flu pandemic in 40 years, and as a response, there has been a large demand for flu vaccinations this year.”
Ashlei Stevens, WellCheck spokeswoman, said five weekend clinics were scheduled through Nov. 1.
Ms. Stevens said there is a chance that the clinics could resume if the supply line is restored.
“We want to get back up running again in the malls,” she said. “It’s still just waiting to see and hear when that will be OK.”
John Moore, spokesman for Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, said his system is out of the seasonal flu shot game this year.
“It’s gone. We’ve dispensed it,” Moore said. “We’re not expecting to get any more. From everything I understand, once that batch was gone, it was gone. All locations are out.”
He added that it is unknown when H1N1 batches will arrive.
“We were originally scheduled to get delivery about a week ago,” he said. “They say soon, and we hope that’s the case.”
Rebecca Berkley, spokeswoman for East Texas Medical Center, said ETMC received fewer than half the 40,000 to 50,000 doses of ordered regular flu vaccine.
“We have 20 shots or so available at various clinics, but many are low or out,” Ms. Berkley wrote in an e-mail. “We continue to receive our order in small increments.
“As for H1N1 vaccine, we also placed an order and have not received that order yet for our clinic patients or any of our health care workers.”
“What I’m being told is that the H1N1 production caused the seasonal flu production to be interrupted,” said Todd Anderson, Bethesda Clinic administrative and finance director. “Not as many seasonal flu shots were produced. There were 12 million instead of 25 million.
“Much of that vaccine went to the larger companies and hospitals. Our vendor, without notice, just informed us that they were not going to order our pre-order of 2,000.”
Anderson said his clinic was trying to get FluMist to satisfy patient orders.
Cindy Myric, Tyler Urgent Care’s main registered nurse, found out Monday more vaccines would not be coming.
“We got a call from our manufacturer … and they said they are not shipping any more of the seasonal flu vaccine and they’re putting all their efforts into H1N1 production,” Ms. Myric said. “We’ve run out.
“It’s unfortunate. It’s not a good situation. Seasonal flu is just as dangerous as H1N1.”
She said that as of Monday, her clinic had seen 148 confirmed H1N1 cases in the past two months and no seasonal flu cases. The clinic has ordered about 1,000 H1N1 shots, but it is not known whether the federal government will provide them, she said.
“They kind of pick and choose how many they give depending on demand in the area,” Ms. Myric said.
Two weekends into what was supposed to kick off an annual series of weekend shot clinics at Broadway Square Mall, the provider, WellCheck, announced Wednesday that it had to call off the program due to a national shortage of seasonal flu vaccine.
“We realize that the vaccination shortage is not just a WellCheck issue, but it is a national issue,” Jack Tawil, CEO of WellCheck Medical Centers, said in a news release. “The World Health Organization says that this is the first global flu pandemic in 40 years, and as a response, there has been a large demand for flu vaccinations this year.”
Ashlei Stevens, WellCheck spokeswoman, said five weekend clinics were scheduled through Nov. 1.
Ms. Stevens said there is a chance that the clinics could resume if the supply line is restored.
“We want to get back up running again in the malls,” she said. “It’s still just waiting to see and hear when that will be OK.”
John Moore, spokesman for Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, said his system is out of the seasonal flu shot game this year.
“It’s gone. We’ve dispensed it,” Moore said. “We’re not expecting to get any more. From everything I understand, once that batch was gone, it was gone. All locations are out.”
He added that it is unknown when H1N1 batches will arrive.
“We were originally scheduled to get delivery about a week ago,” he said. “They say soon, and we hope that’s the case.”
Rebecca Berkley, spokeswoman for East Texas Medical Center, said ETMC received fewer than half the 40,000 to 50,000 doses of ordered regular flu vaccine.
“We have 20 shots or so available at various clinics, but many are low or out,” Ms. Berkley wrote in an e-mail. “We continue to receive our order in small increments.
“As for H1N1 vaccine, we also placed an order and have not received that order yet for our clinic patients or any of our health care workers.”
