From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson clinic runs out of flu vaccine after an hour
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Fred Kinsella thought he would finally get his flu shot yesterday at the Atkinson Community Center. But the Derry resident arrived just minutes after a sign was posted on the front door saying they were already out of vaccinations, about an hour into the four-hour clinic.
"We're going to have to search for another clinic," Kinsella said.
And he has been searching. Kinsella said he had tried at least four other places before heading to Atkinson yesterday. He said he usually gets his vaccination at work, the Social Security Administration, but this year it ran out of seasonal flu vaccine before he could get his.
"They had so many people, they ran out two weeks before all the appointments would have been filled," Kinsella said.
Atkinson's seasonal flu clinic, sponsored by the Police Department, is one of the largest in the area, according to Cathy Garrett of the Rockingham VNA and Hospice. Last year, about 400 vaccinations were given at the Atkinson clinic, but this year they had just 270.
"The H1N1 has made people aware of the vaccines you should get," Garrett said.
Vaccine wasn't always hard to find.
Two years ago, Garrett said, they had to throw away 1,000 doses because nobody wanted them.
Several people waiting for their shots yesterday said it was the first place they were able to find the vaccine.
Atkinson resident Ivan Grotenhuis said he tried to get a seasonal flu vaccination from his doctor about a week ago, but was turned away when they ran out.
"Doctors haven't really had any either," said Grotenhuis' wife, Gwen, while waiting with hundreds of other people to get their vaccinations.
Atkinson resident Kelly Doherty said she arrived at the clinic right at 10 a.m. because she feared it would run out. Doherty said she works at an early education center, so getting a flu vaccination is important.
But she's even more concerned about her 2-year-old daughter. She hasn't been able to find a place to get an H1N1 vaccination for her, including the family pediatrician.
"That's my highest priority, more so than for me," Doherty said.
According to state health officials 40,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine are on their way next week, but are destined for the highest risk patients — pregnant women, children with health problems and health care workers.
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54 comments:
I work in a pediatrics office and I can honestly say that the manufactures cannot keep up with the demand of the H1N1. It is unfortunate that we are having to turn people away. BUT HERE IS SOME ADVICE RE: H1N1
H1N1 IS THE STRAIN OF FLU THAT IS CIRCULATING NOW!! SEASONAL FLU IS NOT ANTICIPATED UNTILL LATE TO MID FEB ALTHOUG IT COULD COME SOONER!
COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WITH AT TISSUE .IF YOU DON'T HAVE A TISSUES USE YOUR INNER ELBOW
USE LYSOL ON EVERTHING DOOR AND REFRIDGERATIOR HANDELS, PHONES ,KEYBOARDS/MOUSES,KIDS TOYS.
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN AND USE AN ALCOHOL BASED HAND GEL.
KEEP 3-6 FEET BETWEEN YOURSELF AND OHTER PEOPLE.
IF YOU ARE SICK PLEASE SATY HOME!!!!EVEN IF YOU FEEL BETTER YOU CAN STILL SPREAD THE FLU EVEN IF YOU FEEL BETTER.ADULTS CAN SPREAD THE FLU UP TO 5 DAYS. KIDS CAN SPREAD THE FLU FOR 7 DAYS
HIGH RISK PT'S ASTHMATICS PREGNANT WOMEN DIABETICS ANY CHILD UNDER 6 MONTHS OF AGE CHILDREN 6MONTHS TO 9 YEARS OF AGE , ANYONE WITH ANY IMMUNE SUPPRESING ILLNESSES .......PLEASE CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIANS EVERY DAY FOR UPDATES ON VACCINES IT IS NOT A BOTHER TO A PRACTICE BUT THE VACCINES ARE GOING QUICKLY THE ALSO IS SAME FOR ADULTS CALL EVERY DAY TO SEE IF THEY HAVE VACCINE AVAILBLE FOR YOU I AM SORRY TO BLAB ON BUT I FEEL AS MY JOB AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS TO GET THIS MESSAGE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN AND FOR MORE INFO GO THE THE CDC WEB SITE FOR MORE ONFO!
I called CVS and Rite-Aid and they said that the State has not recieved NAY H1N1 vaccines.
The APD is obviously just providing the usual flu shot, and at a price EQUAL to or GREATER than other flu clinics.
Walgreens has been giving the shot for a mere $24.00
I guess this is just another profit amking scheme for the Police Cheat.
I know personally we are expecting a shipment Tuesday. So like i said earlier keep calling don't give up it's first come first served !!!!!!!!!
they are getting the regular flu shot. there are no h1n1 vacs in NH.
Check with flu.gov for the REAL info on where to get shots.
>>>>>>>>>
When can I get my H1N1 vaccine?
Based on the current H1N1 Influenza A vaccine allocation to the State of New Hampshire and New Hampshire's Vaccine Distribution Plan, the following people are eligible to receive the H1N1 Influenza A vaccine through their personal health care providers: (10/15/09)
Health Care Workers and First Responders with direct patient contact
Pregnant women
Children 6 months to 5 years with chronic medical conditions for which the available vaccine is appropriate
Additional population groups will be added to this list as more vaccine comes into the state.
H1N1 Vaccine Clinics
The NH DHHS H1N1 webpage is updated daily. Currently, H1n1 vaccine is available to eligible persons through their private health care providers. When the number of vaccine doses in New Hampshire is large enough to warrant public clinics, the dates and addresses will be posted.
>>>>>
The APD has seasonal flu shots ONLY, but at a higher price.
You people are crazy. The police department does not make any money on the flu shots. They are provided by the Rockingham VNA. The price of the vaccine varies from place to place. You people just need something to complain about. Good job, you are the cancer on society.
"Two years ago, Garrett said, they had to throw away 1,000 doses because nobody wanted them."
Apparently the PD loses alot of money doing this....or should I say the taxpayers who fund this dept. Go to your doctor, the PD will do anything but their real job.
To: November 1, 2009 12:20 PM
Tell me where in the police budget it states that the flu shots are paid for by tax dollars. Show me where the pd is making money. The money would have to go into the general fund. You obviously have no idea what the hell you are talking about. You are slanderous and should get a life. You are never happy unless you are pissing and moaning about something.
Sometimes I moan when I piss, but only because it's such a relief. So for me, when I piss and moan, it's a good thing. Just thought I'd share.
So who threw away the 1000 doses, and who paid for them?
Anon November 1, 2009 10:04 PM,
Does it matter what happened two years ago with something you probably did not even know about two days ago? This blog continues to be a joke. There is no discourse here. It is only a platform for people to vilify other residents for God only knows why. I suggest the "Atkinson Reporter" do some real reporting and investigate whether or not the PD profited from a flu shot clinic. And if not, how about an apology from the village idiots who started this rumor.
The PD most likely sponsors the flu clinic. helps organize it, gets the information out there. It's not surprising they ran out...a lot of clinics are. This is due to a larger number of people getting the flu shot because of all the information on H1N1. Give the government time to develop more H1N1 shots. The gov didn't have same amount of time to prepare for the H1N1 as it did the regular flu shot.
In the meantime, see 1:34 post for safety measures. Good job 1:34.
To Be honest, I don't think the PD or Elderly Affairs has anything to do with the "Flu shot clinic" in Atkinson, beyond advertising for it.
I believe they are "sponsors", meaning that they secure the community center for it, they advertise it, and that's it.
I know alot of people think that they pay for it, but that isn't the case. The Rockingham VNA does the clinic. and the Seniors pay for their shots.
I don't think the town or the PD make any money, or pay any money in this transaction.
The PD runs it and takes the credit for it.
That's all, just the credit.
Still, someone paid for the 1000 doses of wasted, over-ordered vaccines two years ago.
Who?
I figured out it was a joke when the had no information when I called. So I called Walgreens set an appt for two hours later. Got the shot immediately with no line and saved money over elderly affairs/pd price.
My company usually gives seasonal shots every year, but not this year. They referred me to www.findaflushot.com and I went that evening to a supermarket near work and was in and out in 10 minutes. I think they charge $20 but if you're insured, just fill out paperwork. I paid nothing.
Stop harping about the 1000 flu shots that were discarded. The PD & the VNA had no control over not enough people getting the flu shot. I bet if you looked at every clinic that had flu shots that year you would find others that ended up discarding the vaccine.
This year there is more information about regarding the flu vaccine. And with the H1N1 affecting people of all ages people are more responsive to getting flu shots than prior years.
So Atkinson ran out because more people responded. Many PCPs are probably referring their patients to clinics because the PCPs also are running low on the vaccine.
It's time to stop blaming the PD.
And so what if they take credit. At least people are out there getting flu shots.
Don't go to the PD if you don't have to. Walgreen's is cheaper. I got mine for free at work.
Imagine 1000 flu shots thrown out, that's $30,000.00 worth of flu shots.
OMG, what a waste of money, TAXPAYER money.
What's worse, having too many vacines and throwing some out or not having enough and having people get sick and die?
typical hysteria. How many people (unvaccinated) die annually from the Flu?
Versus how many die from the flu shot?
Just because someone doesn't get a shot doesn't mean they are going to get sick and die. I get the flu every winter, I haven't had a flu shot since I was ten.
Hysteria? It's a question. But to answer yours, less than 200 people die from flu shot related complications. Over 36000 die from the flu annually. While I'm glad that you're in good health and have managed to recover from the flu, others have not been so fortunate. So I'll ask again, what is worse? Having too many vaccines or not enough? My guess is if one of your family members or friends was amoung the 36000 because they didn't have access to the vaccine, you'd say not enough. These numbers don't include H1N1 where children are more suseptible than adults. Not hysteria, just facts.
"Having too many vaccines or not enough? "
More importantly, what's BETTER is not wasting money.
sheesh
Maybe there shouldn't be any vaccines, then we won't have to worry about wasting money.
or, as we have been saying...get a free shot.
There's no such thing as a free lunch. We pay for it somehow.
Walgreens had vaccine available. How come the PD makes this big ad campaign and then the bubble pops and you are on your own?
Why is this a problem? The town organized a flu shot for its citizens and people are acting as though this is somehow a bad thing.
Anon 8:20,
I agree completely. They are complaining taxpayers wasted money on a flu clinic that happened two years ago and the Chief has somehow profited this year. So if the Chief can "profit" from these clinics, then using logic, are we to assume he lost money two years ago. See how silly some of you are?
And to Anon 2:02, if what you are saying is true and you are getting the flu every year and you do not get a flu shot, I wish you luck as you age and fall into higher risk categories. Stupid is as stupid does...
Wow, you get the flu every winter?? Or do you just call it the flu, when it is only a virus..I am 43 years old and only had the genuine flu once. I think people get a cold and think its the flu...crazy!
November 2, 2009 3:17 PM writes:
"More importantly, what's BETTER is not wasting money."
From the CDC's Q&A section on the seasonal flu (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm):
"Influenza is a serious disease, and people of any age can get it. In an average year, seasonal flu causes 36,000 flu-related deaths (mostly among those aged 65 years or older) and more than 200,000 flu-related hospitalizations in the United States. The "seasonal flu season" in the United States is usually from November through April each year. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population. An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and lessen the chance that you will transmit to others."
So 200,000 hospitalizations that could potentially be reduced if people got the flu shot. If you really want to save TAXPAYER dollars, you should be encouraging people to get the shot and not the other way around.
Walgreens is where to get shots. Not atkinson police.
All I said was STOP wasting money.
Lots of people can get it free, the rest can get it at Walgreen's.
WHY are the taxpayers paying for incompetence? I don't care if it's two years ago or two days, ago. If they had fessed up before this, the discussion would have happen long ago.
They are not transparent about anything.
Anon 9:27,
There was nothing to "fess up" about. Stop trying to make this into something bigger than it actually is. Did you read Mark's post?
"To Be honest, I don't think the PD or Elderly Affairs has anything to do with the "Flu shot clinic" in Atkinson, beyond advertising for it.
...
I know alot of people think that they pay for it, but that isn't the case. The Rockingham VNA does the clinic. and the Seniors pay for their shots."
Honestly, you do yourself no good by complaining about every little thing that goes on here, especially when you do not have your facts straight.
Get my facts straight?
NO ONE has come forward with facts about who paid for 1000 vacs that were thrown out and THAT is the only fact we have, Chief.
No sense arguing with small minded people. Vaccines are often over produced and for good reason. Of course, you see an opportunity to somehow make this about Phil so you latch onto anything that is even remotely connected. I have no issue with issuing criticism where it is due, but you're reaching.
Anon 10:01,
Are you reading what people are posting here?
FACT (from Mark Acciard): I know alot of people think that they pay for it, but that isn't the case. The Rockingham VNA does the clinic. and the Seniors pay for their shots.
What more do you need?
Anon 10:01,
READ the article. The quote from the person who said they threw out the vaccines was from Cathy Garrett, who works for the Rockingham VNA and Hospice.
Maybe they should give you a stupid shot too.
I don't know for certain;
But I think she may have been talking about the VNA throwing out 1000 doses, not Atkinson PD.
Do the math, there are 6540 men, women and children in Atkinson. Of that number 1200 or so are 55 and over, according to the Chief.
That means in order to throw out 1000 doses here in town you would have had to order enough for ALL seniors to come and get them, Why would you expect EVERYONE 55 and over to get the shot at your clinic?
It is not reasonable.
Mark says do the math. Mark, read the article.
Fred Kinsella thought he would finally get his flu shot yesterday at the Atkinson Community Center. But the Derry resident arrived just minutes after a sign was posted on the front door saying they were already out of vaccinations, about an hour into the four-hour clinic.
-snip-
Atkinson's seasonal flu clinic, sponsored by the Police Department, is one of the largest in the area, according to Cathy Garrett of the Rockingham VNA and Hospice.
It's not just for Atkinson residents.
"Maybe they should give you a stupid shot too.'
That's rude of you.
Still, no one has answered the question.
Oh,,, I forgot,,,no questions in Atkinson or we'll attack you.
That's rude of you.
Since when is being accurate rude?
You're advocating a position in which vaccines shouldn't be thrown out, but in order to do that, you would need fewer vaccines available than the number of people who want them. Some other simpleton, maybe it was you, stated that 1000 vaccines is $30000. That's not the cost of the vaccine. There is built in overhead, such as administering the shot, profit, etc. Now do as the other poster suggested and go and get yourself a stupid shot. Better double it up, you need it.
In past years, I've had a flu shot at the PD clinic. I'm a senior citizen...I did not pay for that shot. I handed them my Medicare Card and that was that.
Maybe times have changed, but I doubt it.
Mr. Senior,
You are STILL paying for that shot with your Medicare Card! The only difference is it costs $100.00 by the time you add in bureaucratic efficiency. And you pay for it through taxes rather than at the door. And I have to chip in for it too.
Anon 3:37 PM,
Can you offer proof the flu shot through Medicare costs $100? What if seniors cannot afford the $20 shots at Walgreens? Would you prefer they skip the clinic altogether, as some here have suggested? But let's be honest...really, what you are advocating is a BOYCOTT - why??? Guess it is the "agenda" again!
Of course if the seniors get sick with the flu and are hospitalized, I wonder what they would use to pay? Medicare, I suppose...boy you are a genius when it comes to saving us taxpayers our hard-earned dollars.
And by the way, I suspect Atkinson is not the only community the Rockingham VNA holds these clinics. Therefore, when they say they threw away 1000 doses (TWO YEARS AGO), I doubt very much this was specific to our town.
Don't you see how silly some of you are?
I'm a frequent and strong critic of the chief and the town on this blog but I've got to say, this is a bit much.
Let's not come off like a bunch of paranoid nuts here, how about not making empty charges until you actually have some facts behind what you're saying?
I don't like the chief much, but I don't think he was behind 9/11 or the Roswell incident...
" You're advocating a position in which vaccines shouldn't be thrown out"
You are inventing things. Don't put your conclusions off on me. I asked a question and have a right to do so. You making stuff up then blaming people. Are you on drugs?
Now don't YOU see how silly you are?
Hey 4:03pm,
Relax, take a Valium or something, I was merely pointing out to the senior that getting his shot with his medicare card doesn't make it free. It just makes it more expensive, and masks the true costs.
Touched a raw nerve, huh? Facts are stubborn things. BTW I made no assertions that the $100 figure was exact, it is demonstrative.
You are inventing things. Don't put your conclusions off on me.
What conclussion am I supposed to come up with when you start bitching about too many vaccines? They try to make enough for everyone. Some people don't get them. Therefore, you end up with too many. The only other alternative is to make too few. Try a little logic. Oh, sorry, you lack that capability.
NEW ARTICLE SUBMISSION
Fiscal Responsibility For These Difficult Times
Atkinson is now entering the budget season when department heads will either come in with budgets that (1) show their solidarity with our hard-pressed
taxpayers; or else (2)they will selfishly ’thumb their nose’ at our townspeople.
So many Atkinson households are struggling to make ends meet. The number of our townspeople
who have lost their jobs due to lay-offs, down-sizing or business failures is unbelievable. Many homes have gone on the market because financially-pressed owners can not meet their mortgage obligations.
These are very tough and difficult financial times for so many. Our town officials and department
heads have got to respect that when they submit their budgets for 2010.
Some department heads consistently act responsibly and come in with low budgets or at least, hold the line while other department heads regularly selfishly act like pigs at a trough, demanding more and more every year. Each year’s budget is an increase over the previous year’s.
TO ALL SELECTMEN AND BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Please REFUSE to accept ANY AND ALL budget increases from dept. heads. Please hold the line
for the struggling tax payers you
are supposed to represent. Announce and then enforce a ZER0
TOLERANCE LEVEL for those giving taxpayers the bird.
Anonymous - Nov 3 @ 4:18 PM:
You said: "Let's not come off like a bunch of paranoid nuts here, how about not making empty charges until you actually have some facts behind what you're saying?"
Unfortunately, what you say is all too true. It is a shame that the blog is not "fair and even" and that a lot of people "shoot first...and never ask questions." When someone tries to "keep to the facts" and engage in real discussion, others quickly attempt to drag the discussion off topic...like usually blaming everything on the chief...even if it is an impossible stretch.
The person complaining about the "wasted innoculations" is laying it on others to do the fact-finding research, rather than doing it themselves--before making unfounded claims. Saying something unfounded, such as assuming who got the bill is just irresponsible, and unfortunately is all to common on most of the threads on this blog.
Even when the "whiners" on this blog have a good point, they "shot themselves in the foot," with nearly unintelligble cheap shots about meds, the chief, the BOS, "litmus test" questions, or that your IP address is being traced...
No one will ever take this blog seriously, or some of the citizen petitions, or the more valid questions about town government issues, as long as the bloggers, petitioners, and complainers, resort to childish, paranoid, unfounded, or outlandish comments and actions that, frankly, scare the average citizen away--even when "there is a pony in there somewhere."
If the bloggers blame the wrong party when something is clearly not true--how do they expect to be taken seriously when they do occasionally "get it right?"
I do support "freedom of speech" and the right for every blogger to "have their say." But, with rights...come responsibilities. Before people take cheap shots, they should do their homework, and present defensible facts, otherwise what they are saying just comes off as what it is-- cheap shots.
I rest easy knowing that "real whackos" on this blog even scare off some of the lesser whackos, as they make unfounded claims, that the real majoriity see for what they are. This protects us from suffering the consequences of their paranoia--because they ensure they are not taken seriously, so that the rest of us don't have to.
I have not said the above, even though I have belived it for years, because I was afraid that saying it might cause the "whackos" to behave themselves well enough to be taken seriously. Although some have come close, recent actions, in and out of the public eye, have given me comfort that it will never happen!
"The person complaining about the "wasted innoculations" is laying it on others to do the fact-finding research, rather than doing it themselves--before making unfounded claims. "
There is nothing wrong with asking questions and no one here should get attacked and insulted for doing so, no matter what side you presume they are on. To me, this type of response is what makes this blog awful.
Anyone who has information about this could respond but the liklihood of getting an honest answer from the PD who run the clinic, is not going to happen.
Notice how no one ever came back with an answer.
The claim was not unfounded, it was a direct quote .
Anyone who has information about this could respond but the liklihood of getting an honest answer from the PD who run the clinic, is not going to happen.
The PD runs the clinic? Really? Where did you come up with that gem? They SPONSOR the clinic. Big difference. Now run along and go look for those "wasted" vaccines.
Unfounded shots at the PD over unused shots--how poetic--and ironic!
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