Ross
Well-known member
I scored mine this morning, but I waited forever and nearly ran out of oxygen. I went an hour early and I was still number 32.
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azpam
Well-known member
Good job Ross!! you especially need one. i got one last week but then again i am an employee of the company that does flu clinics in arizona so i can get mine free. has been a crazy season! last year clinics lasted longer (into december) and we did alot of children. this year almost zero children,all elderly,caregivers or health professional. i recommend for those we can't get the shot to :1.eat healthy foods (staying away from sugars and carbonated pop) 2.good handwashing alot and wipe down grocery carts,doorknobs,etc. 3.i sell "around the neck" purifiers that can help with germ control,odors,smoke,etc. an added protection in "your personal space"/ good for air travel,dr.appts,etc.. 4:echinacae is good but check what herbs are ok if on coumadin.get one that is standardized! hope this helps! azpam
H
Harpoon
Maybe it was mentioned here before, but at LEAST two people DIED while waiting in line for flu shots...
Both elderly, both died of essentially exhaustion when they passed out while standing, fell, and hit their heads...
A bit extreme, but man.
You'd think there would be better methods in place for dealing with shortages like this. I mean, at the VERY least the CDC or whomever should be able to step in and take control of distribution of whatever remaining vaccine there is. Take it out of private hands and put it in hospitals or primary care physicians who can then establish more efficient systems for distributing the vaccine to the most needy patients.
As much as I might need to be vaccinated against the flu, I'm not sure I'd be willing to get up at 5 in the morning to stand in line, in the cold (or rain or even snow in places) for 5 hours waiting for a shot. That's ridiculous.
How many of those people stood in line, maybe even with numbers in their hand, for hours and hours only to find out the supply at the pharmacy's clinic ran out?
hell, you could potentially CATCH the flu while standing in line i nthe cold waiting for the vaccine to prevent it! That's how a lot of people who claim the shot actually gave them the flu. They already had the active virus in their system and when the vaccine was introduced, it weakened the immune system enough for the active virus to kick in and make them sick.
If the CDC (that's what they are right? "Centers for Disease Control") can anticipate a shortfall, or a "catastropic disruption" to the supply as what happened this time around, occures then the CDC should be able to step in and take control of all the remaining vaccine and begin a preplanned vaccination program that addresses the needs of the most critical patients and healthcare providers first. Make "Big Brother" do something useful for once!
Both elderly, both died of essentially exhaustion when they passed out while standing, fell, and hit their heads...
A bit extreme, but man.
You'd think there would be better methods in place for dealing with shortages like this. I mean, at the VERY least the CDC or whomever should be able to step in and take control of distribution of whatever remaining vaccine there is. Take it out of private hands and put it in hospitals or primary care physicians who can then establish more efficient systems for distributing the vaccine to the most needy patients.
As much as I might need to be vaccinated against the flu, I'm not sure I'd be willing to get up at 5 in the morning to stand in line, in the cold (or rain or even snow in places) for 5 hours waiting for a shot. That's ridiculous.
How many of those people stood in line, maybe even with numbers in their hand, for hours and hours only to find out the supply at the pharmacy's clinic ran out?
hell, you could potentially CATCH the flu while standing in line i nthe cold waiting for the vaccine to prevent it! That's how a lot of people who claim the shot actually gave them the flu. They already had the active virus in their system and when the vaccine was introduced, it weakened the immune system enough for the active virus to kick in and make them sick.
If the CDC (that's what they are right? "Centers for Disease Control") can anticipate a shortfall, or a "catastropic disruption" to the supply as what happened this time around, occures then the CDC should be able to step in and take control of all the remaining vaccine and begin a preplanned vaccination program that addresses the needs of the most critical patients and healthcare providers first. Make "Big Brother" do something useful for once!
H
Harpoon
One of these days (I think you have to be at least 35 or something) I'll run for president....
G
geebee
There is no vaccine where I live. Even the county has none. I saw some local news programs and it appears that they were giving flu shots to anyone who said they were high risk thus the quick disappearance.
I guess I will be hiding out, washing my hands a lot and wearing a face mask when I go out until more shows up if ever. If not, I will envoke all of your prayers and best wishes to get me through the flu season.
Take care,
Gina
I guess I will be hiding out, washing my hands a lot and wearing a face mask when I go out until more shows up if ever. If not, I will envoke all of your prayers and best wishes to get me through the flu season.
Take care,
Gina
Marty
Well-known member
Interesting article in Washington Post this AM on how we got down to only 2 companies that make flu vaccine and how the situation may deteriorate further until we get away from eggs and into cell culture. This will take about 7 years and will need a lot of taxpayer support.If interested go to www.washingtonpost.com page 1. I'm not sure exactly how to attach the article to this reply.
M
Marge
There was a letter in the San Francisco Chronicle today from a lady who waited in line seven hours at a local supermarket to get a flu shot. She made some interesting points. She asked: Why are these shots being dispensed in supermarkets and donut shops with people, many of whom are handicapped and very frail, waiting outside in all kinds of weather? She pointed out that many businesses and schools and churches have large auditoriums seating 500 or better. She said: Why not do the shots there? The people can sit, and be called up one row at a time, and as one row got their shots, the rows could move up.
Made sense to me!
I truly do not understand why the powers-that-be did not figure out earlier that there was going to be a problem. They might not have been able to get extra supplies of vaccine, but they could at least have worked out better distribution systems. It seems to me that there was a bad breakdown of communcation. The FDA and HHS apparently knew there were contamination issues, but took Chiron's word they would be resolved and did not communicate, or if they did, not sufficiently, with the British regulatory people.
Kaiser starts its clinics in my area on Tuesday so I will try to get one. Saturday Kaiser in Oakland gave shots and was mobbed ... I was in that area to go to the movies and there was no parking for blocks around because of the people at the flu clinic. The Kaiser flu clinic hot line gives the times and dates for the clinics but says nothing about how many people they can actually serve.
I wonder what is happening to the people who cannot go to the clinics & wait in line. Usually the various home health nurse services have flu vaccine & can go to people's houses to administer it but the home health nurses don't have any this year.
What a S.N.A.F.U.
Made sense to me!
I truly do not understand why the powers-that-be did not figure out earlier that there was going to be a problem. They might not have been able to get extra supplies of vaccine, but they could at least have worked out better distribution systems. It seems to me that there was a bad breakdown of communcation. The FDA and HHS apparently knew there were contamination issues, but took Chiron's word they would be resolved and did not communicate, or if they did, not sufficiently, with the British regulatory people.
Kaiser starts its clinics in my area on Tuesday so I will try to get one. Saturday Kaiser in Oakland gave shots and was mobbed ... I was in that area to go to the movies and there was no parking for blocks around because of the people at the flu clinic. The Kaiser flu clinic hot line gives the times and dates for the clinics but says nothing about how many people they can actually serve.
I wonder what is happening to the people who cannot go to the clinics & wait in line. Usually the various home health nurse services have flu vaccine & can go to people's houses to administer it but the home health nurses don't have any this year.
What a S.N.A.F.U.
I agree, Marge...Even at our small Eckerd's last week there was a sign on the door..stating the date and time..10:00 A.M....(No other details)..Well, when I went down at 10:00 A.M...Was told the numbers were all gone by 9:15 a.m. It should have read..Come early for a number..so I think there was some inside info..that we were not aware of..but employees were. My age 90 year old father was told to come in November..(I think they even gave him a certain date for his)...so, maybe more is on the way. He only leaves the house once a week for groceries..so, maybe he will get lucky if he is unable to get one.I was at Wal-Mart today and was thinking about the handle on the cart. Guess, we need to take wipes with..this winter.. Bonnie
My age 90 year old father was told to come in November..(I think they even gave him a certain date for his)...so, maybe more is on the way. He only leaves the house once a week for groceries..so, maybe he will get lucky if he is unable to get one.I was at Wal-Mart today and was thinking about the handle on the cart. Guess, we need to take wipes with..this winter.. Bonnie
Marty
Well-known member
The wave.
The wave.
MidAtlantic Kaiser where I work 4 days a week is a little better organized.They are going to inoculate people in waves by individual invitation.
The first wave will include all age 6 to 23 months and age 80 and older. Patients in heart failure, with severe asthma, COPD, lung transplant and interestingly children 2 to 18 on chronic aspirin therapy.
The second wave will include patients getting chemo and/or radiation. those on dialysis, end stage renal disease, diabetes if hospitalized in the last year, cirrhosis, pregnant women, the immunosuppressed, AIDS with CD-4 count under 200.
And finally the third wave patients 65-79 ( Hooray, thats me!), Health care workers directly exposed to sick people (also me!), and patients with other chronic conditions.
Kaiser does not do FluMist I'm not sure why. The first wave has not started yet.
The wave.
MidAtlantic Kaiser where I work 4 days a week is a little better organized.They are going to inoculate people in waves by individual invitation.
The first wave will include all age 6 to 23 months and age 80 and older. Patients in heart failure, with severe asthma, COPD, lung transplant and interestingly children 2 to 18 on chronic aspirin therapy.
The second wave will include patients getting chemo and/or radiation. those on dialysis, end stage renal disease, diabetes if hospitalized in the last year, cirrhosis, pregnant women, the immunosuppressed, AIDS with CD-4 count under 200.
And finally the third wave patients 65-79 ( Hooray, thats me!), Health care workers directly exposed to sick people (also me!), and patients with other chronic conditions.
Kaiser does not do FluMist I'm not sure why. The first wave has not started yet.
Marty
Marty
That sounds good..However, do you know how many vaccines they are going to have on hand? Maybe, they will run out by the 3rd wave.. YOU.. ..I love to watch Fox News on Sunday Mornings. they have a Dr. Rosenburg..and he said, yesterday, Several years back, he had to beg his patients to go and get a flu shot...Now, everyone in America wants one? ..Wonder why?...Bonnie
Marty
That sounds good..However, do you know how many vaccines they are going to have on hand? Maybe, they will run out by the 3rd wave..
YOU.. ..I love to watch Fox News on Sunday Mornings. they have a Dr. Rosenburg..and he said, yesterday, Several years back, he had to beg his patients to go and get a flu shot...Now, everyone in America wants one? ..Wonder why?...Bonnie
M
Marge
<< And finally the third wave patients 65-79 ( Hooray, thats me!), >>
Well, that's me now, too ...although at the low end of the category. I do not know whether having had my mitral valve repair puts me into the "chronic condition" category.
Also, I am not quite sure what "in heart failure" (which puts a person in the first category) means.
I was diagnosed last year as "having" CHF but I don't know if that is the same thing as being "IN" heart failure! I am not sure at this point if I even HAVE heart failure since my EF now tests out to within "normal" range. The heart failure nurse practitioner doesn't know either and to ask my cardio (whom I don't see until next month).
I guess I am looking for an excuse NOT to go wait in those lines ....
Also I see these people on the news who are waiting for the shots -- very old, breathing with difficulty, half bent over, with oxygen, walkers, and canes; and I think, Gee, maybe I should let one of those people have "MY" shot.
I wish there were some way I could find out how bad it would be if I did get the flu. I mean, I know I'd be thoroughly miserable, and feel like I WANTED to die, but how likely am I to actually do so?
Well, that's me now, too ...although at the low end of the category. I do not know whether having had my mitral valve repair puts me into the "chronic condition" category.
Also, I am not quite sure what "in heart failure" (which puts a person in the first category) means.
I was diagnosed last year as "having" CHF but I don't know if that is the same thing as being "IN" heart failure! I am not sure at this point if I even HAVE heart failure since my EF now tests out to within "normal" range. The heart failure nurse practitioner doesn't know either and to ask my cardio (whom I don't see until next month).
I guess I am looking for an excuse NOT to go wait in those lines ....
Also I see these people on the news who are waiting for the shots -- very old, breathing with difficulty, half bent over, with oxygen, walkers, and canes; and I think, Gee, maybe I should let one of those people have "MY" shot.
I wish there were some way I could find out how bad it would be if I did get the flu. I mean, I know I'd be thoroughly miserable, and feel like I WANTED to die, but how likely am I to actually do so?
Marty
Well-known member
Marge, You bring up a lot of the problems with the flu vaccine priorities. However I would suggest you belong in the first wave which by the way has not even started yet in our faclity. I doubt that Alice and I will ever get shots. I did hear that California Kaiser has lots of vaccine and that they were going to share some of it with us.
I heard on CNN today..negotitation with Canada..to purchase some of their vaccine..and that 2.8 million more vaccines will be available in Jan...I remember that our local hospital was full of flu patients last March (when my Grandson was in hospital for ruptured appendix..and they were not allowing children under age 12 in the hospital to visit..I remember there were many babies with flu.. Bonnie
Bonnie
M
Marge
I got my flu shot today -- Kaiser was VERY well organized, at least the one where I went. The shots were supposed to start at 10 a.m. and I got there around 9:15 a.m. Turned out they had been giving shots since about 7:30 a.m. -- people started lining up at 7 a.m. and so when the staff came to work they started giving the shots. There were two lines -- a shorter one for disabled and the people with kids and a longer one for everybody else. Even waiting in the longer line I was out of there by 10 a.m. They had a whole bank of nurses. The weather was nice -- which was lucky because we were lining up outdoors. Yesterday it rained buckets -- the first of our big winter storms.
I don't know how many shots they gave today -- A LOT!!! I'd be really curious to know how many & how they managed to have that much on hand. They must have ordered theirs from Aventis! Anyway, I am glad I got mine; one less thing to worry about. Hope everybody else who really needs one is as lucky as me.
There are times when I am very happy I belong to Kaiser! (Other times .... oh well.)
I don't know how many shots they gave today -- A LOT!!! I'd be really curious to know how many & how they managed to have that much on hand. They must have ordered theirs from Aventis! Anyway, I am glad I got mine; one less thing to worry about. Hope everybody else who really needs one is as lucky as me.
There are times when I am very happy I belong to Kaiser! (Other times .... oh well.)
MelissaM
Well-known member
Sometimes mother's know best. . .and I now laud my mother for not making me germ-phobic as a child (that's a nice way of saying we didn't have the cleanest house on the block ). I was probably exposed to lots of germs and stuff, which most likely made my immune system pretty darn strong - didn't miss a day of school until I skipped class in the 12th grade. And flu shots?? Are ya kidding me?? Going to the doctor was for when you were gushing blood. . .not for getting some "silly little shot"
Up until last year I had never gotten a flu shot, and only got one last year because I happened to be at the doc's and she suggested we could do it at the same time.
For me, it is just another flu season. Hopefully all that are in dire need of a shot will get them, and hopefully those who aren't able to get one don't fret too much - your chances of dying from the flu are 0.01% - your chance of getting hit by a bus are probably greater!
). I was probably exposed to lots of germs and stuff, which most likely made my immune system pretty darn strong - didn't miss a day of school until I skipped class in the 12th grade. And flu shots?? Are ya kidding me?? Going to the doctor was for when you were gushing blood. . .not for getting some "silly little shot"Up until last year I had never gotten a flu shot, and only got one last year because I happened to be at the doc's and she suggested we could do it at the same time.
For me, it is just another flu season. Hopefully all that are in dire need of a shot will get them, and hopefully those who aren't able to get one don't fret too much - your chances of dying from the flu are 0.01% - your chance of getting hit by a bus are probably greater!
Having seen the health of the people who have lined up for the flu shots, and understanding that there will not be enough for those in greatest need, I am not going to compete with these folks for what's available. They need it more than I do.
One reason for getting the flu shot is the concern for tagalong pneumonia or bacterial endocarditis (even though the flu itself is a virus). I would suggest any senior or otherwise susceptible site members consider contacting their physicians for an anti-pneumonia vaccination.
The State of New Jersey has told older and ill people not to line up for flu shots, for fear that they will suffer health consequences from it. They have also said that there will be shots available for most of those in greatest need. However, they didn't discuss how these older, greatest-need people, who are no longer waiting in lines, will magically get their flu shots...
Interesting thought regarding the flu and odds. If your chance of dying from the flu is .01%, it is more than twice as much as your chance of even contracting bacterial endocarditis (.0042%).
Best wishes,
One reason for getting the flu shot is the concern for tagalong pneumonia or bacterial endocarditis (even though the flu itself is a virus). I would suggest any senior or otherwise susceptible site members consider contacting their physicians for an anti-pneumonia vaccination.
The State of New Jersey has told older and ill people not to line up for flu shots, for fear that they will suffer health consequences from it. They have also said that there will be shots available for most of those in greatest need. However, they didn't discuss how these older, greatest-need people, who are no longer waiting in lines, will magically get their flu shots...
Interesting thought regarding the flu and odds. If your chance of dying from the flu is .01%, it is more than twice as much as your chance of even contracting bacterial endocarditis (.0042%).
Best wishes,
H
Harpoon
IF you have a heart condition, REGARDLESS of what that condition may be (meaning basically, if you see a cardiologist on anything close to a regular basis) then you are on the A 1 list and you get to move to the front of the line.
PERIOD.
Heart failure is defined as when the heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it should. That's it. Heart failure comes in a variety of forms. The most common one that "everyone" knows of is CHF or congestive heart failure which is from having too much fluid in the blood stream and around the heart. It may also lead to problems in edema and fluid in your lungs, chest, abdomen, or extremeties or any combination of the above. Other forms of heart failure can come from multiple heart attacks, disease, valve issues, congenital defects....
If you have heart failure, in any form, your at risk and should be in the first group for flu shots.
PERIOD.
Heart failure is defined as when the heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it should. That's it. Heart failure comes in a variety of forms. The most common one that "everyone" knows of is CHF or congestive heart failure which is from having too much fluid in the blood stream and around the heart. It may also lead to problems in edema and fluid in your lungs, chest, abdomen, or extremeties or any combination of the above. Other forms of heart failure can come from multiple heart attacks, disease, valve issues, congenital defects....
If you have heart failure, in any form, your at risk and should be in the first group for flu shots.
H
Harpoon
Not to brag, because I know a lot of people here are struggling just to FIND the vaccine, let alone get it stuck in their arm...
I got mine yesterday during my physical. I asked the nurse who gave it to me and she pointed out where they marked it for me when their vaccine orders came in, before any shortage concerns arose. She said they wouldn't have given the shot to anyone else unless I missed my appointment and neglected to call in ahead of time to say I'd miss it and reschedule or just skip out on the appointment and never call back.
As I was leaving the office there was a guy who apparently had come in "off the street" and was looking for flu shots. Another nurse came to the window and asked if he was a patient at the practice. He said know but he was willing to pay cash. She responded saying that all of their vaccine stocks were reserved for patients of the practice and that most of them had already made arrangements to get the vaccine. They weren't doing any clinics that would be open to the general public (ie. people who were not patients of the practice.)
He wasn't too pleased about the answer, but left without a fuss.
I got mine yesterday during my physical. I asked the nurse who gave it to me and she pointed out where they marked it for me when their vaccine orders came in, before any shortage concerns arose. She said they wouldn't have given the shot to anyone else unless I missed my appointment and neglected to call in ahead of time to say I'd miss it and reschedule or just skip out on the appointment and never call back.
As I was leaving the office there was a guy who apparently had come in "off the street" and was looking for flu shots. Another nurse came to the window and asked if he was a patient at the practice. He said know but he was willing to pay cash. She responded saying that all of their vaccine stocks were reserved for patients of the practice and that most of them had already made arrangements to get the vaccine. They weren't doing any clinics that would be open to the general public (ie. people who were not patients of the practice.)
He wasn't too pleased about the answer, but left without a fuss.
