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It was that experience that led Mark Cooper, the director of the Westport Weston Health District, to say he was expecting high demand for the H1N1 vaccine on Nov. 4, and would not schedule another clinic until he knew how much of the vaccine would be available.
Cooper said that in addition to a problem with short supplies, the Health District was overwhelmed last week because a large number of individuals seeking the vaccine did not live in Westport or Weston. "They knew we had the vaccine."
Cooper said that as far as he knew, places like CVS and Walgreen's no longer had seasonal flu vaccines available. At the health district, there are now "very tight supplies of the seasonal flu vaccine" for those Westport or Weston residents who believe they are at high risk for the seasonal flu because of underlying conditions. "We are under a great deal of pressure but we are trying to maintain a small stock for those people," said Cooper.
Thirty-six thousand people die annually of the seasonal flu in the United States, said Cooper, but he has not heard of any deaths in the area thus far from seasonal flu.
"Part of the reason for the shortage of seasonal flu vaccination is that manufacturers have diverted their supplies to the production of H1N1 vaccine," said Cooper.
He also said that strong demand for the H1N1 vaccine may be regionalized. For example, there may be adequate supplies of H1N1 vaccine in New York City, where many parents in public schools are refusing to allow their kids to get the vaccine, saying it is too untested, and perhaps even unnecessary.
"This year has been full of surprises," said Cooper. "In the past we've always gone out and ordered our vaccines in the spring for fall. We've had it well in advance, and there were no shortages." This year is another story.
Cooper said he has heard of cases of H1N1 in the Westport school district, but there is a district wide plan to keep schools open despite the incidence of the illness. "At a task force earlier this summer between the health district, local towns and local emergency services a plan was established to keep the schools open if at all possible. Closure for one or two days doesn't do much to break the cycle. When they are not in school, kids just hang out together and spread the flu. You don't accomplish much by stopping school. Healthy kids should go to school. Sick kids should stay home to break the transmission cycle."
Those who wish to obtain the H1N1 vaccine can get more information on the Westport Weston Health District website at www.wwhd.org. or by calling 227-9571. The website details those who are eligible to receive the vaccine while it is in short supply and also lists medical offices in the area which also have the vaccine. However, because the supply is so unpredictable and the demand so high, Cooper advised calling the health district or the medical offices to ascertain whether or not the vaccine is available.
