H1N1 vaccine supplies edge upward

H1N1 vaccine supplies edge upward

Limited doses of H1N1 vaccine are trickling into SouthCoast via local practitioners and boards of health, but the vaccine is still being reserved for those most at risk for complications from swine flu.

Because the supply is so limited, the state Department of Public Health has divided the target vaccination group into sub-priorities, placing at the top of the list only pregnant women, children, care-givers of infants younger than 6 months and health-care workers with direct patient contact.

"DPH believes this targeted distribution approach, using health-care providers who serve these high-risk groups every day, is the most effective way to ensure the vaccine gets to those who need it most as quickly as possible," the DPH said in a statement on its H1N1 blog.

According to the DPH, more than 660,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine were distributed to providers in Massachusetts by late last week. That is a small percentage of the total 3.5 million doses of vaccine the state is expected to get this flu season. Municipal health officials have seen only a sliver of their requested supply, as well.

"We have received some H1N1 (vaccine) and we've distributed that to local family and pediatric practitioners," said Wendy Henderson, public health director for the town of Dartmouth.

She said the town has received three small allocations of the vaccine, including one shipment that arrived Monday. The first allocation was distributed to physicians and disbursed to patients within 48 hours, and Henderson said she is expecting a similar turnaround for the latest shipments.

"The demand is certainly there," she said. "We're, of course, prioritizing children and especially those under 10 years old who require two doses of the vaccine."

The Wareham Board of Health announced that the H1N1 vaccine is now available for pregnant women and care-givers of infants under the age of 6 months. People in these target groups can register by calling Mary Devlin of the Cape Cod Visiting Nurse Association at (508) 957-7619.

According to the DPH, individuals will not be charged for the H1N1 vaccine.

Federal funds are paying for the vaccine itself, while administration of the vaccine is covered by insurance.

Those without insurance, or those whose insurance does not cover the administration of the vaccine, will not be denied the vaccine and will not be asked to pay for it.

Michelle Forcier, a clerk at the Board of Health in Lakeville, said her office does not have any doses of the vaccine.

"The state has told us to hold off on any clinic indefinitely until the supply becomes larger," she said.

"It seems like they're sending more shipments to local pediatrics and OBs."

Unlike Dartmouth, there are few doctors' offices in Lakeville to which the Board of Health could distribute the vaccine, although Middleboro Pediatrics in Lakeville attracted hundreds last month when its H1N1 vaccine clinic had parents and children lining up outside before the office was open.

"We're happy that somebody in Lakeville was able to get it," Forcier said.

In Dartmouth, the Board of Health has not worked with OB/GYN offices to distribute the vaccine to them. According to Henderson, many of them are "in pretty good shape" as far as their vaccine supply is concerned.

In addition, the Board of Health has mostly received the live, attenuated nasal spray form of the vaccine.

"A lot of the health-care workers shy away from receiving that formulation, as well," because it cannot be given to all patients, Henderson said.

According to the DPH, the nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for certain groups, including pregnant women.

As more vaccine becomes available, prioritized groups will expand to include young adults up to 24 years old and people 25 to 64 with chronic health problems. Eventually, the vaccine will be available to everyone — but not yet.

"We haven't had anywhere near enough to open up a public clinic," Henderson said.

"We should start to see much bigger supplies in the near future but, at this point, I'm not going to hold my breath."