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By BRYON ACKERMAN
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Sep 23, 2009 @ 06:57 PM
Last update Sep 23, 2009 @ 08:58 PM
Are you going to get two flu shots this year?
While concerns about the H1N1 virus have dominated headlines for months, local health officials say residents also need to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
?Just say it over and over again: You need to be protected against both,? American Lung Association Chief Medical Officer Norman Edelman said.
Seasonal flu vaccines have been available since the beginning of September from some doctors, pharmacists, hospitals and health clinics. The health departments for Oneida and Herkimer counties have scheduled dozens of flu-vaccine clinics.
And though some concerns have arisen about delays in shipping the vaccine while swine flu vaccines are distributed next month, local health officials say there are two reasons not to worry:
* About 114 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine will be made available during flu season in the United States ? more than ever provided before. Another 195 million doses of H1N1 virus, or swine flu, vaccine will be made available in the United States.
* The primary time for seasonal flu isn?t until January and February, and it only takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect, so even if some supplies are delayed, there?s plenty of time to get vaccinated.
Pediatrician Stephen Eadline, president of the Slocum Dickson Medical Group, said the group has been busy since it started providing seasonal flu vaccines three weeks ago and already is running low on vaccines for people younger than 2 years old.
More than 500 people already have been provided vaccines there, but vaccines for other age groups aren?t running out, Eadline said.
Shipping delays and a larger response than normal are the reasons the supplies are running low, but Eadline doesn?t think it will be a problem because eventually there ?should be plenty for everyone that wants one,? he said.
?A good idea?
Because of a new state law, this is the first year pharmacists can provide flu vaccines.
Pharmacist Paul McDonald, who also is the owner and operator of The Medicine Shoppe of New Hartford, has given about 30 flu shots this year, he said.
Cathy Sleeper, a nurse at the next-door Dr. Sleeper Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery business, received a flu shot from McDonald Wednesday.
Sleeper said she wanted to get a seasonal flu shot now and is planning on getting a swine flu shot when the vaccines are available.
?I think it?s a good idea,? she said. ?I think everybody should.?
Herkimer County has been provided seasonal flu vaccines twice per week since the beginning of September in order to get a head start and free up workers for providing swine flu vaccines when they become available, Herkimer County Director of Public Health Gregory O?Keefe said.
?There?s a lot more flu vaccines out there this year to be given and only so many people to give them,? O?Keefe said, adding that the clinic has been ?very, very busy? so far.
The Oneida County Health Department has 23 flu-vaccine clinics scheduled for Oct. 1 through Nov. 5 in order to vaccinate as many people as possible, spokesman Ken Fanelli said.
The cost
The price of a seasonal flu vaccination will vary ? depending on a person?s insurance coverage and if the shot is received at a doctor?s office, pharmacy or public clinic, Edelman said.
Usually, the vaccine will cost between $20 and $30, Edelman said.
?Compared to the terrible inconvenience of the flu, it?s a bargain,? Edelman said.
Some insurance companies will cover flu shots from your doctor, and insurance also sometimes is accepted at local pharmacies.
For example:
* Pharmacists at Target Pharmacy will offer the vaccinations for $24, and the company accepts some types of insurance, according to the company?s Web site.
* A flu shot at Rite Aid will cost $30, which is covered by Medicare Part B. Some other types of insurance also may be accepted, according to the company?s Web site.
* At Oneida County?s clinics, the fee is $25 for adults ages 19 and older if they are not covered by Medicare Part B or Medicaid.
* At the Herkimer County clinics, the fee for a shot is $20 without a Medicaid Part B or Medicare Replacement card.
Delayed shipments
The vaccine for the H1N1 virus is expected to become available sometime in the middle of October.
Sanofi Pasteur, the largest U.S. provider of flu vaccines, is producing 50.5 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine and 75.3 million doses of swine flu vaccine this year, spokeswoman Donna Cary said.
The company started shipping seasonal flu vaccines at the end of July, and about half of the seasonal flu vaccines already are delivered, Cary said.
The later shipments of seasonal flu vaccines normally are completed by the end of the October, but some of them could be delayed into November because of the need to ship swine flu vaccines next month, she said.
?There?s a lot to manage here,? she said. ?We will be meeting all of our commitments.?
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Sep 23, 2009 @ 06:57 PM
Last update Sep 23, 2009 @ 08:58 PM
Are you going to get two flu shots this year?
While concerns about the H1N1 virus have dominated headlines for months, local health officials say residents also need to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
?Just say it over and over again: You need to be protected against both,? American Lung Association Chief Medical Officer Norman Edelman said.
Seasonal flu vaccines have been available since the beginning of September from some doctors, pharmacists, hospitals and health clinics. The health departments for Oneida and Herkimer counties have scheduled dozens of flu-vaccine clinics.
And though some concerns have arisen about delays in shipping the vaccine while swine flu vaccines are distributed next month, local health officials say there are two reasons not to worry:
* About 114 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine will be made available during flu season in the United States ? more than ever provided before. Another 195 million doses of H1N1 virus, or swine flu, vaccine will be made available in the United States.
* The primary time for seasonal flu isn?t until January and February, and it only takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect, so even if some supplies are delayed, there?s plenty of time to get vaccinated.
Pediatrician Stephen Eadline, president of the Slocum Dickson Medical Group, said the group has been busy since it started providing seasonal flu vaccines three weeks ago and already is running low on vaccines for people younger than 2 years old.
More than 500 people already have been provided vaccines there, but vaccines for other age groups aren?t running out, Eadline said.
Shipping delays and a larger response than normal are the reasons the supplies are running low, but Eadline doesn?t think it will be a problem because eventually there ?should be plenty for everyone that wants one,? he said.
?A good idea?
Because of a new state law, this is the first year pharmacists can provide flu vaccines.
Pharmacist Paul McDonald, who also is the owner and operator of The Medicine Shoppe of New Hartford, has given about 30 flu shots this year, he said.
Cathy Sleeper, a nurse at the next-door Dr. Sleeper Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery business, received a flu shot from McDonald Wednesday.
Sleeper said she wanted to get a seasonal flu shot now and is planning on getting a swine flu shot when the vaccines are available.
?I think it?s a good idea,? she said. ?I think everybody should.?
Herkimer County has been provided seasonal flu vaccines twice per week since the beginning of September in order to get a head start and free up workers for providing swine flu vaccines when they become available, Herkimer County Director of Public Health Gregory O?Keefe said.
?There?s a lot more flu vaccines out there this year to be given and only so many people to give them,? O?Keefe said, adding that the clinic has been ?very, very busy? so far.
The Oneida County Health Department has 23 flu-vaccine clinics scheduled for Oct. 1 through Nov. 5 in order to vaccinate as many people as possible, spokesman Ken Fanelli said.
The cost
The price of a seasonal flu vaccination will vary ? depending on a person?s insurance coverage and if the shot is received at a doctor?s office, pharmacy or public clinic, Edelman said.
Usually, the vaccine will cost between $20 and $30, Edelman said.
?Compared to the terrible inconvenience of the flu, it?s a bargain,? Edelman said.
Some insurance companies will cover flu shots from your doctor, and insurance also sometimes is accepted at local pharmacies.
For example:
* Pharmacists at Target Pharmacy will offer the vaccinations for $24, and the company accepts some types of insurance, according to the company?s Web site.
* A flu shot at Rite Aid will cost $30, which is covered by Medicare Part B. Some other types of insurance also may be accepted, according to the company?s Web site.
* At Oneida County?s clinics, the fee is $25 for adults ages 19 and older if they are not covered by Medicare Part B or Medicaid.
* At the Herkimer County clinics, the fee for a shot is $20 without a Medicaid Part B or Medicare Replacement card.
Delayed shipments
The vaccine for the H1N1 virus is expected to become available sometime in the middle of October.
Sanofi Pasteur, the largest U.S. provider of flu vaccines, is producing 50.5 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine and 75.3 million doses of swine flu vaccine this year, spokeswoman Donna Cary said.
The company started shipping seasonal flu vaccines at the end of July, and about half of the seasonal flu vaccines already are delivered, Cary said.
The later shipments of seasonal flu vaccines normally are completed by the end of the October, but some of them could be delayed into November because of the need to ship swine flu vaccines next month, she said.
?There?s a lot to manage here,? she said. ?We will be meeting all of our commitments.?
