LAT: Retailers Are Urged to Save Flu Shots for Most Vulnerable

[DeepModem Mom]

Retailers Are Urged to Save Flu Shots for Most Vulnerable
The appeal from public health officials comes amid a shortage of the vaccine. Stores pledge to cooperate, but compliance is spotty.

By David Pierson and Solomon Moore, Times Staff Writers


At the urging of public health officials, many supermarkets, pharmacies and other retail outlets that provide flu shots are turning away people who are not at the highest risk for serious complications.

The change comes amid a national shortage of the flu vaccine. Officials have called on healthcare providers to give the vaccine only to the elderly, young children, healthcare workers, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions.

Retailers offering shots have been deluged over the last three days by people seeking vaccinations, causing long lines at some locations. With the new policy, more people are being turned away at some stores. Customers were being asked to fill out brief questionnaires to see if they adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's criteria for high-risk patients.

But the new screening procedures were not being universally followed....


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-flu9oct09,1,4383989.story?coll=la-home-local

[Sven77]

1. Tainted Flu Shots Cause Shortage

Tainted Flu Shots Cause Shortage

The nation's supply of vaccine for the impending flu season took a big hit Thursday when Chiron Corp. announced it found tainted doses in its factory.

The company said it will hold up shipment of about 50 million shots — about half the supply U.S. health officials had hoped to have on hand this year — while it investigates what went wrong and determines whether the vaccine is safe to use.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/25/health/main638543.shtml

how safe do you think flu shots are ?

[theshadow]

2. And the US ignored a warning...

.... from Britain that this was going to happen:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210286/

I hope we're lucky and this flu season is as mild as in past years. With millions of people left without protection, a bad season could be devastating.

[spotbird]

3. There was a story on the radio that said there hasn't been

much mutation in the worst virus of last year's flu season. The severe strain of last year wasn't covered in the last year's shot, but anyone who caught it will be immune. That natural immunity combined with the fact that the severe strain is covered in the shots available this year could mean a mild flu season.

[mongo]

4. I sure hope that you are right

Working in retail and not being able to get a flu shot are a bad combination.....

Time to abuse the Purell again.

[spotbird]

5. Black Elderberry syrup.

Have some on hand and take it at the first sign of the flu. It really works.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11399518