Demand for vaccine high

Shajia Ahmad

Nov. 6, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Published 11/6/2009 in Local News

Not everyone who showed up for an H1N1 flu vaccine Thursday got what they came looking for.

Norma Navarrete brought three younger members of her family to the Finney County Health Department Thursday to get them vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus but were turned away because they reside in Kearny County.

"I wonder why they can't just give it to us since we're already here?" Norma Navarrete asked in Spanish through her 15-year-old niece, Marisol Navarrete.

Garden City resident Erin Carmichael also brought her 2-year-old son, Jaydon Carmichael, for a vaccine and was hoping to get one for herself, as well.

However, the 24-year-old mother was turned away because health officials have been making their extremely limited quantities of vaccines available only for pregnant woman and children 6 months to 18 years of age.

"OK, so I guess it's just for the kids," Carmichael said and laughed, as she took her son in for one of the last few dozen shots available Thursday morning at the health department.

Local health officials began distributing a batch of about 1,300 H1N1 flu vaccines Wednesday morning at the Clarion Inn, 1911 E. Kansas Ave., and were almost out Thursday morning before they decided to distribute the last few at the Finney County Health Department.

Distribution of the vaccines is based on population density by county, and surrounding counties do not receive nearly the few thousand vaccines as Finney County, said Ashley Goss, the health department's administrator. In addition, screeners work to weed out individuals who are not yet eligible for the limited supplies.

"We have to turn some people away and that's upsetting. It's going to be quite a while before there are enough vaccines for everyone," Goss said. "But as long as we can get the ones we can through, we will."

The health department receives a shipment of vaccines each week for distribution and is expecting about the same number for the same priority groups officials hope to vaccinate next week, Goss said.

H1N1 vaccines are being made this year to protect against the H1N1 influenza virus, sometimes called swine flu. There are two kinds of vaccines being produced: a flu shot that is given with a needle, usually in the arm, and the nasal spray flu vaccine given via a nasal sprayer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

State health officials have been distributing the H1N1 vaccine in Kansas in limited quantities. As of Oct. 30, the CDC reported that 117,100 doses of the H1N1 vaccine had been allocated to area clinics and health departments for distribution within the state.

In addition, certain individuals are recommended to receive the vaccine earlier, including pregnant women and young children.

There were about 1,100 doses of the nasal mist and injectable H1N1 vaccine available last week as local health officials opened up with their priority group to children up to the age of 18.

Goss said the health department will be receiving another shipment of vaccines next week, to be distributed at the Finney County Exhibition Building on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., though the administrator could not say the number of vaccines that would be available. The priority groups will remain as children 6 months to 18 years of age and pregnant women, with a special emphasis on children with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, or other chronic medical problems.

Goss said the Clarion Inn initially was chosen as a location -- at no cost to the health department -- to distribute the vaccines because of its central location within the city and the parking available for people coming in to get vaccinated and for staff workers. However, the venue is being changed to the Finney County Exhibition Building due to cold-weather concerns and will continue to be used as long as the health department continues to vaccinate the public, she added.

"We don't want to have people waiting outside anymore, and we definitely don't want people to get sick while they're waiting for a vaccination," Goss said.

One local resident Thursday complained about the vaccines being administered in a public place and near a restaurant.

D. J. Parrish, Garden City, who says she has a weakened immune system because she has cancer, said she ate at Samy's Spirits and Steakhouse inside the Clarion on Wednesday when people were lining up to receive the shots. She questioned why a hotel with a restaurant, such as the Clarion, would be chosen as a place to administer the flu vaccinations, saying she worried about whether people in line might be sick and how it might affect her health.

Goss said holding the immunizations at the Clarion Inn was not a health risk to the public and that the health department did not receive any complaints about the venue.

Amro Samy, the Clarion's owner, said he offered the space as a service to the community and did not receive any complaints from guests at his business, either. However, he said, he feels that the Exhibition Building will better fit the needs of the health department now that it is available for use.

The health department suggests the following tips to help prevent the spread of the disease:

--Stay at home when you are sick or experiencing any of the following symptoms: fever higher than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, respiratory congestion, body aches and, in some cases, nausea and vomiting.

--Use good hygiene procedures by washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based solution.

--Cover your cough and sneeze, or preferably sneeze and cough into your elbow.

At risk for the flu

Individuals who experience severe illness or who are at

high risk of complications from H1N1 influenza infection, including children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and persons with chronic medical conditions(including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions), should contact their health care provider.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has established a phone number for concerned Kansans to call with questions about the H1N1 influenza A virus. The toll-free number is (877) 427-7317. Operators are available to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Persons calling will be directed to press "1" on their touchtone phone to be directed to an operator who can answer questions. Kansans with questions about the virus can email H1N1fluinfo@kdheks.gov. Information also is available from KDHE at www.kdheks.gov

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