The flu shot shortage.
The shot shortage has created a panic here in this state. We have like buttloads of old people and as I'm sure you all have heard, the old people can have it first. Not us moms who should get it because we are the frigging caregivers of kids and the old people.
Oh wait, that's not what I was going to talk about.
Ok, so Publix does flu shots every year and because of the new little mini-law that says only old people can have it or the disabled or the really sick etc etc, a line of hundreds of seniors were gathered outside one Publix for more than 4 hours yesterday.
One senior said that when she got to the store at 8am and got her number, she was number 187. At 8am.
They waited in line half the day in the pouring rain, outside in the parking lot to get their shots.
Leaning on walkers, canes and sitting in wheelchairs.
One old man fell down from weakness after waiting nearly 3 hours for the shot and had to be taken away by ambulance.
Never got his shot.
One old man said he was having trouble standing for that many hours but had managed to listen to an entire audiobook on his Ipod (how cool is that grampa?) while he was waiting.
One old woman said that there needs to be a better way to get these shots out to the people who need them.
I agree with her.
Why are these seniors being forced to go stand in parking lots for hours to get a shot instead of say, oh I dunno, the hospital? Wouldn't it make more sense to give flu shots in a medical facility covered parking lot rather than a grocery store parking lot?
How do we know that the people dispensing the shots are doing them right? Are they taping their medical certifications to the little fold up card tables at which they do these shots?
Something is seriously wrong when seniors can't go to their doctors for a simple shot.
I understand about the shortage, I do, but I do not understand why this isn't done at a more suitable place. If you're only giving them to seniors who have health issues already, give them to them at a medically safe place.
Comments
What I don't understand is how there is a shortage when they're telling everyone to get flu shots. From the census records alone they should be able to guesstimate how many vaccines that is. There should be no shortage. Poor planning pisses me off. I feel so bad for those people :(
Posted by: groovy mom | October 12, 2004 1:36 PM
It's because the plant that makes them in Britain, was closed down or something because of quality control. So there about 1 million vaccinations just sitting in dock here in teh US and then another 4 million that are waiting to be shipped but can't.
Posted by: kat | October 12, 2004 1:48 PM
I never got flu shots until my son was born, and now because of his kidney disease I'm forced too. Okay, not forced. It's just STRONGLY recommended due to the fact that I live with him. I have gotten my shots at a grocery store before, but I've found it much easier and simpler just to go to my doctor's office. Most insurances cover them, and you don't even have to have an appointment to see the doctor. Why aren't these old people doing that? Surely they have doctors. And, yes the nurses that go to the grocery stores do have to have their certificates with them and available to anyone who wants to see them. At least in my state they do.
Posted by: Marti | October 12, 2004 1:54 PM
Because no vaccines were sent to doctors offices here. They were told by their doctors to go to the stores to get them because they had none. There is a nationwide shortage.
Posted by: kat | October 12, 2004 1:56 PM
Bummer. Is it because there ARE so many older people there that they didn't send any to the doctor's offices, or do the doctor's there just not want to deal with it. My doctor and my son's doctor already have their bactches of shots in. We get our's on Thursday. Who hoo. I'm so excited. Blech.
Posted by: Marti | October 12, 2004 2:00 PM
They may have not sent them to docs offices but not because there are so many old people. It is because there is a nationwide shortage due to the fact that the company that makes them is in Britain and there is some quality control issue so millions of batches are just sitting in customs and can't go anywhere.
Posted by: kat | October 12, 2004 2:05 PM
Wow, that's interesting how each state handles things like this. Here it's the exact opposite. They have announced that because of the shortage you will not be able to get flu shots at places like grocery stores this year. If you want one you HAVE to go to your doctor's office.
Posted by: Marti | October 12, 2004 2:57 PM
That is odd. I think they do it this way so it's not according to your insurance. It makes sense. Like you can go to the store with $10 and get a shot but if you don't have health insurance, you can't go to the docs.
Posted by: kat | October 12, 2004 3:34 PM