West Hollywood, California (Sunday, October 25, 2009) - Swine flu shots simply remain unavailable, say doctors, despite the increasing rate of infections and President Obama's Friday night declaration making the H1N1 swine flu pandemic a national emergency, but seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines are available for the groups most at risk for seasonal influenza and its complications. 
WeHo News. |
Doctors’ offices across the city and county say they cannot get shipments of the Swine flu (H1N1) vaccine, which stands to reason, since California has so far received less then 10 percent - 1.7 million of 20 million - doses of H1N1 vaccine expected this season.
As reports of increasing numbers of flu infections rampage across the county, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the City of West Hollywood scheduled a free vaccine clinic for Tuesday, October 27 where Seniors and the disabled can get seasonal flu and pneumonia shots.
(Updated 9:15 am, October 26 - This update corrects last night's article which said the shots would be Swine Flu vaccinations - that was incorrect. Updated 11:25 am, October 26 - this update corrects misinformation not extracted the first edit. We apologize for the errors.)
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will open 64 Swine Flu (H1N1) vaccine/vaccination clinics before Nov. 8, according to officials.
The only County H1N1 Swine flu vaccine clinic scheduled for the immediate West Hollywood-area is at Christ the King Church, 624 N Rossmore Ave, Los Angeles, on November 7.
State health officer Dr. Mark Horton said Thursday that the shortage came just as the flu season surged in California.
Although the number of infections stands consistent with the peak of a regular seasonal flu season, the predominant strain is the H1N1 (Swine) flu, with hospitalizations increasing.
WeHo News. |
Dr. Horton said he remained confident that sufficient supplies of H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine would eventually become available.
Health officials have also noted that the flu remains relatively mild and that the vast majority of people who get it recover within two weeks.
People most at risk from swine flu are pregnant women; those who live with or care for anyone under 6 months old; health care workers; people between 6 months and 24 years old; those under age 64 with chronic medical conditions
Dr. Thomas Frieden, the C.D.C. director, acknowledged problems with the vaccine production in an online briefing Friday.
“We share the frustration of people who have waited on line or called a number or checked a Web site and haven’t been able to find a place to get vaccinated,” he said.
In spring federal officials said 120 million doses could be available at this point, with nearly 200 million by year’s end.
WeHo News. |
Because production problems plagued the vaccine’s manufacturers, who use fertilized chicken eggs which grew more slowly than expected, only 16 million vaccines are ready now.
Dr. Frieden said the manufacturers are “working hard to get vaccine out as safely and rapidly as possible,” but “even if you yell at [the eggs], they don’t grow faster.”
Reports say that, despite repeated inquires by the federal government, the manufacturers failed to inform officials of the delay until two weeks ago.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the release of half of the state's stockpile of 51 million N95 respirators because of the shortage.
Intended for use by doctors and nurses, the respirators keep the airborne flu at bay.
West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land works for the nation’s largest Free Clinic, the Saban Free Clinic (formerly Los Angeles Free Clinic) and issued the following warning in a recent newsletter.
West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land works for the nation’s largest Free Clinic, the Saban Free Clinic - formerly Los Angeles Free Clinic. Photo by WeHo News. |
West Hollywood has a higher than average number of people potentially affected by Swine flu than most cities.
“Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu. You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year.
"The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine are separate vaccinations.”
To receive a free seasonal flu/pneumonia vaccine, go to West Hollywood Plummer Park’s Community Center, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard on 10/27/2009, between 10:00am - 1:00pm.
Event presented by Cedars Sinai Medical Center. The free vaccines are for Seniors and people living with disabilities.
For more information, please call 323/876-1717.
TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing at 323/848-6496.
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