Flu shots

[LUVMyBirman]

The thought was good!

Well...headed over to Walgreens. As I passed to turn in....ABC news crew. Two reporters outside. One inside. I knew the news was not going to be positive. Proceeded to go inside was handed #169. Calling #40. There was no way I could stay as my daughter would have been waiting forever at school for me to pick her up.

6PM news stated that particular Walgreen ran out. Even for the "chronic". So looks like they were giving them to anyone that showed up. The average age appeared to be in the 80 something group.

Few hours later I received some inside info from a friend who is employed at a local hospital. She said that I will not be getting a vaccine though any of my doctors in the system as they will not be releasing any of the hospital stock to them. Was told the vaccines are channeled though the hospital. As luck may have it my PCP is with another facility...so I will call them in the AM and hope for the best. Last ditch would be calling my cousins husband. He is a phsycian.Talk about feeling helpless.

 

[Harpoon]

Watch the herbal teas, some of them can really muck up your medication levels, including coumadin.

Every once in a great while I slip and have some "breed" of herbal tea that happens to have chamomile in it which reacts with my lisinopril in all the wrong ways. I've actually had my tongue swell up after a cup of the stuff... Bad things.


I'm generally real strict when it comes to anything wiht "herbal" on the label and I try to cross-reference stuff when I can with my "Pill Book" (like the home version of the PDR) and/or other advisories on herbal and drug combinations.

 

[Lorraine]

I guess I got lucky somehow. DePaul sent out a memo last week, saying they would be giving flu shots (for free) to all it's employees on Oct 6 & 7. Then I read the news about there not being enough vacinne, I believe that morning or the night before. I figured I would go in Wednesday and they would send out another memo, saying the shots were cancelled. Didn't get a memo, proceeded to to the room where they were giving shots, and they had the vacinne! YEA! So I did get my shot!

I'm sorry for anyone who wants a shot but can't get one. I remember 3 years ago I had a tough time getting the shot. They were offering them at my work, but I was on my way to Nashville for our reunion that day. My doctors office didn't have the shots, cause there was a shortage then, but not as bad as this time. I finally stood in a two hour line at Osco a couple a weeks after the reunion.


This shortage of flu vacinne is unexcusable!

 

[tobagotwo]

Thanks to the news churning this up as a crisis, we now have a run on flu shots that looks like the famous Toilet Paper Crisis of the 1970s.

At that time, a news story incorrectly reported a statement out of context that the supply of toilet paper was threatened. The result was mass hysteria, panic buying, hoarding, and...a toilet paper crisis.

I agree that we should exempt American vaccine makers from lawsuits for other than outright fraud and callous disregard for human life. It is an unavoidable fact that a very small percentage of people will have unexpected negative reactions to vaccines they receive for the first time. While some compensation makes sense, we can't allow it to break the bank of the providers for the vast majority who benefit from the vaccines.

I hope I can get to a clinic, as many of the local doctors simply won't be able to get it. The big list of clinics is very helpful, but the unhappy part is that most of them are during working hours on weekdays.

Best wishes,

 

[Marty]

MidAtlantic Kaiser announced Friday that all flu shots canceled while they try and figure out what to do. 600,000 patients and we will get maybe 20% of our order. I talked with pharmacist friend and he said the flu shot business is low profit and has lots of headaches. He can sell a year of statins for $1500 or Viagra for $ 3500. For a flu shot he gets a lousy $7 bucks and the customer only needs one for the entire year! The vaccine is not easy to make and the medicolegal risk is high.All kinds of law suits for "reactions". No American company wants to get in the business. If an American company decided to manufacture flu vaccine today it would take 6 or 7 years to get into full production.

 

[Mary]

I haven't decided to have a flu shot. I haven't had one in many years, and I escaped without the flu last year. I haven't had the flu in probably 10 years.
My husband says I need one; I'm not convinced.
Am I wrong?
Mary

 

[tobagotwo]

Oh, Mary. The cards and letters are about to come pouring in...

You definitely qualify for the high risk group, Mary, although it would be good to get a note from your cardio or GP to show at the clinic.

Aortic stenosis or reguritation of any significance is considered a high risk category. Those who've had the valve operation need only show the registration card from the valve. If you premed for dental work, and aren't allergic to eggs, you should definitely get one every year.

Along with the risk from the flu comes the danger of tag-along endocarditis.

Best wishes,

 

[Mary]

Bob,
One down and nine to go.
(I operate on a 10 to 1 ratio for following advice that goes against my wishes!)

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Mary,
Here is number 2, GET YOUR FLU SHOT
Take Care

 

[labguides]

I am angry about not being able to get flu shot. Granted, I am not one of those at-risk, but still I feel that our health care system should be the best. Obviously, it isn't.

My husband has COPD, so I am hoping he can get a flu shot. He is recovering from pneumonia, so he won't even try to get one now.

I called our PCP who will not giving any flu shots. Our PCP has always been our source for flu shots.

Paper today showed the LONG lines of people waiting at Costco to get flu shots.

A year ago, when our daughter was waiting to have mitral valve repair, I asked her cardio if she should have flu shot. Cardio said it was up to our daughter. Cardio wasn't pushing flu shots, which surprised me.

We will be washing our hands FREUQENTLY, and staying away from large gatherings. I sure sound like an old fogey!!! I just recovered from bronchitis and have no desire to be sick again!

 

[Marguerite53]

Mary!

Mary!

Mary, this is #3, PLEASE get a flu shot!! It really just seems to make sense. I hate them too. I waffle and hadn't gotten them every year either. My husband thinks they're important and now that I know I'm in risk group (yuk, hate the sound of that) it's just another change I have to make.

If it's of any persuasion, I always notice that in the years in which I have taken a flu shot, I avoid most colds going around, too!! You're a teacher, right? Avoiding colds and viruses must count for something!!

Just do it or we'll all worry about you!! Marguerite

 

[Marguerite53]

hm.

hm.

Labguides. Hi. I started a thread some weeks ago purporting the value of fresh squeezed orange juice. No one seemed very impressed. I realize there are issues with many as to the high sugar content. There may also be issues with orange juice's level of postassium (pro or con, depending on the type of diuretic you're on).

All I know is that my family started drinking Odwalla flash pastuerized orange juice by the gallon (we get it at Costco) and we are avoiding many of the bugs that go around (4 years in a row, knock on wood). My cardio cringed at the level of sugar. There is less sugar in a fresh orange (or it's digested differently due to pulp). Eat a fresh orange daily.

We also put a roll of paper towels instead of handtowels in the bathrooms which get used by visitors and numerous family members (during the flu season). There are 5 of us in the family. We also each have our own tube of toothpaste. Just a thought.

Good luck.

Marguerite

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

I work very closely with the nurse management team who are in charge of flu shots in the hospital I work in and the visiting nurses who put on 43 the clinics in the Portland, ME community. I was sitting in an executive management team meeting when the news broke. This problem will not easily be resolved as there is a long lead time in making the batches.
Bottom line there are only two manufacturers of flu vaccine, neither are domestic. The reason there is no flu vaccine made in the USA? You guessed it $$$$. Our American drug companies have much more lucrative products.
Meantime we have a very high risk population out there who may not be inoculated.

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

More detail of flu shot shortage

More detail of flu shot shortage

http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/11044200p-11961064c.html

 

[McCln]

Flu Shots

Flu Shots

I already called last Friday and checked on the day they will do the shots. I will be going Wednesday. I always get one every years for the last 12 years. Only missed one year and was lucky. I have heard the price gouging going on and the new regulations. My doctor knows better. and will give me the shot. I do not getting sick, nor more than two days. Hope everyone gets theirs somehow. Good luck all.

 

[Glenda]

I have got one for years but my PCP isn't going to get any and my oncologist is waiting for his. I'm not going to wait in line for over 4-6 hours for a shot. I guess I'll take my chances this year.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Oh Glenda....

Oh Glenda....

Do you have any other doctor's besides the two that you mentioned??? I wouldn't want to see you get sick because you couldn't get your shot, besides I read that they are prioritizing the flu shots and those with chronic illness are on the priority list....And I do wonder if this applys to the clinics that they do in the parmacies as well...I do hope you can get your flu shot...for your protection and good health....Take Care, Harrybaby666 (And I Stress: !!! LOL)

 

[Sherry]

Just had my standard physical with my wonderful GP today, and he seemed thoroughly disgusted with the flu shot situation. He suggested the health department as a possible route. Either I'll do that or (as Glenda mentioned) go without. What are we to do?

 

[breakingwaves]

Marge

Marge

Back to the drawing board, now the doctor hs cacelled my flu shot appointment due to the local hospital and nursings homes needing them.

 

[Glenda]

Hi Harry

Hi Harry

Yes I have a heart surgeon and a cardiologist and they won't be giving the flu shots this year either. What's a person to do?? Maybe I'll just stay away from people this winter. Right! ! I just called my oncologist again and the nurse said they are supposed to be getting it and I am on the list, so maybe I'll get lucky here.

Sorry to hear about all your problems with your doctors and nurses. It can be quite frustrating at times. I like all my doctors. My one oncologist can be a stinker sometime. He doesn't want to tell me anything so I started asking for a copy of my blood work-up when I'm there. He doesn't like it, but he does make me a copy. Then I proceed to go over it with him right there. This takes up more of his time but since I usually have to wait over two hours to get in to see him, I feel he can at least do this for me. I did tell him one time "hey, you're working for me. I can always find another doctor." He's been a lot nicer since then.

You hang in there and hopefully you can move and start all over. Hugs are coming your way.