It has been suggested that I start a new thread on something that happened to me this am. My local Winn-dixie today had a flu shot clinic from 11–2. I arrived about 11:15 and witnessed chaos, the manager was walking towards me stating that someone needed to get over here and straighten out this mess. There seemed to be about 15–20 people yelling, being very upset about receiving a flu shot. It seems it was a rumor that there were only a few flu shots (per tech. at pharmacy when I went back later in day to get my medicine), that some people had been there since 10:00 am, and other people had jumped ahead of them to receive their shot. Alot of upset people and it seemed to me sortof out of character as these were mostly people who were at least 65 plus years. It brought home to me how something like this caused so much chaos and commotion, what would it be like with a shortage of food, water, medicine, people sick and dying, and no medical help. This is just the beginning of flu season what do we realy have to look forward to, is this just a small picture of our true nature, or was this a very small isolated incident? What are your thoughts?
SORRY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE FLU SHOT PANICK
GOODNESS,CAN’T EVEN SPELL PANIC CORRECTLY, SORRY
It sounds like they need to give out numbered tickets as people arrive, then call them up in groups of ten. One more for the lessons learned pile. Thanks for the story.
BTW, I read your title as ‘flush hot clinic’.
Renamed. When you do your title all in caps, it runs all the words together. If you want the words spaced, just capitalize the first letter in each word.
thank you, pogge, I am lucky I can type the words correctly some of the time. Next time I will do it correctly.
Besides, caps are considered shouting.
See, I did not know that, anything else? Maybe I should get my 11 yr. old, he is much more computer savy than I ever even thought about being. Goodness thank you DenFromCt.
DemFromCT
ARE THEY REALLY Just teasing. when I use caps sometime, I hope I’m not implying that I’m shouting. Sometimes I use caps to convey an emotion, and try to use words that back that up. Believe me, if I used caps to convey shouting, you’d know. But I try to stay with etiquette, so I’ll be MORE mindful. (tease)
They ain’t seen nothin’ yet; I hope they told the public to buy a little extra every week and stock up on over-the-counter meds, Rx meds, food, water, emergency stuff - months worth.
We’ve had a whole year since the World Health Organization had Ten things they thought we needed to know about pandemic influenza the feds, the state; they’ve known, and locals tried to keep the public so calm there may not be time and supply chain enough to get prepared.
Oh, and tell the public there won’t be any pandemic vaccine for months after pandemic starts, so, play nice in the seasonal flu shot line please (and have they had the pneumococcal vaccine yet?).
Here’s what last year’s looked like around here.
Wow, crfullmoon, that is a very long line. Again, just another image that will be in our future with shortages of food, water, hey ya’ll know what I’m talking about. I’m going to go to our local Saad’s, on the Alabama preppers thread it was suggested that there was no problem and even cheaper than my local winn-dixie. So, next wk I am going to call and see what is needed and get our flu shots out of the wa, have already gotten our pneumonia shots about 6 wks ago, which is really my biggest concern.
The way most seasonal flu vaccine is administered in this country is stupid. If pandemic flu vaccine is ever available it will probably be just as stupid.
Here’s a snip from an interesting article describing why some clinics and physicians are having trouble getting flu vaccine…
KALISPELL, MONTANA - Flu clinics in Flathead County have been pushed back a month, into November, as suppliers say they won’t deliver adequate vaccine until later in the season.
“It’s not that there isn’t enough vaccine,” said Marie Arrington. “There’s lots and lots to go around. The problem is distribution.”
http://missoulian.com/articles/2006/10/06/news/mtregional/news04.txt
frankiew- 17:08
what you saw was human nature, that primal instinct that says “me first”. And I am starting to believe that is why our government/leaders have not and will not release any information at this time. When they do, it will be close to pandic alert, and that is why we must continuing prepping. If you’ve prepped for 6 weeks, prep for 8. We have no idea how long this would last. Once I think I have achieved my stock quota, I always find myself buying this or that, for just in case. that just in case has come in handy several times.
Very scary story, frankiew. As I said on the AL thread, when I got my flu/pneumo shots, the line on the outside of the drugstore holding a flu clinic was over 30 deep (not to mention however many people were lined up all through the store to the actual shots happening in the back). Meanwhile, there was no one else getting the shots at the doc-in-a-box that I used for mine---at the same time in a small town. Literally, these two sites were less than two miles apart. I think there is very much a herd mentality of “what are those people doing in line? I’d better get in that line too; if they want it, I want it; in fact, I want it first.”
The issues with your flu clinic story are important ones. I have a real horror of being in Wal-mart with paniced people trying to get supplies or in line with paniced folks trying to fill-up with gas.
Yes it could get very ugly. A few years ago there was an early seasonal flu outbreak in CO and a few children died (turned out they had supressed immune systems). But the national MSM latched onto it and showed pictures of long lines for shots. Then you couldn’t get a shot anywhere. Moms at our preschool were freaking out about getting their kid’s vaccinated. One mom cancelled a family trip to CO just because of it. Tured out to just be a normal flu season. But all it took was furrowed brows from Katie Couric and Matt Lauer to freak the whole country out.
LauaB- at 08:07
“But all it took was furrowed brows from Katie Couric and Matt Lauer to freak the whole country out.”
exactly, and the more I listen the stuff like this, the more I’m becoming convinved that what is needed, is a slow released of information. To my mind, that is the best way to deal with a non-panic situation. However, the media makes things worse, and once the “Early Show” has it, it’s panic city. I have seen them take something so meaningless, and create a panic. It’s all in the words.
So in two papers this morning I read contradictory information: one is that there are plenty of flu shots out there but they will be slow in coming due to distribution issues. Only part will arrive in October, the rest not until Nov/Dec. However, they’re worried that if the season starts early a lot of people won’t be protected. The other story: are you ready for the flu season? Only x% of adults say they will get vaccinated and that’s not enough. Make sure you get yours.
So, make sure you get it, but you’ll have to wait, and then it might be too late. What’s the average person supposed to think?
They’ve had 12 months and more to “slow release” information; they could have started with wash your hands, stay home when your sick, “Here’s the definitions of Seasonal; , Avian, and Pandemic Flu” - a year ago!
Any of those new human-to-human-to human clusters could have been the start of pandemic. They only knew it wasn’t because the spread of cases stopped; how many more times can we get lucky?
The monitoring and the science and the human nature is not good enough to get much more warning. Stocking up to get through quarantine or supply chain disruption takes time; people won’t panic if told the truth and given practical things they can do. They will be outraged if it goes down like it looks to now.
Forget investigating 9/11 or Katrina; we might as well have an investigation commision into “Pandemic Unpreparedness /failure to instruct and prepare the public” now. Don’t think one will be so possible after a pandemic.
I got my flu shot yesterday. Noone ahead of me so I chatted with the nurse. Actually they have a great deal of printed literature om flu and emergency stocking up. They should have it on the table when you sign in. A good oppurtunity is being missed here. I might mention it to the nurses signing in the people. I generally get my shots here as I just pop in when noone else is being taken care of, rather than wait in other venues. People are usually very patient, but people who cut ahead of you in line usually upset people who have been waiting. It is not an unusual thing for people to get hopping mad when that happens. And if they believe something scarce they seem to get spastic.
DH and I got flu and pneumovax at a Winn Dixie clinic yesterday. Frankview, I’m so sorry you had to deal with such chaos! This is what we did…
Went to findaflushot.com. Found a place where there is not so much population density. Had to drive a bit. Had about 5 people ahead of us but it was all pretty pleasant, for what it was. I guess from Galt’s experience, it might be good to have a backup site in case in case one comes across a mob scene. I’m with Galt- Walmart fraks me out.
The nurses didn’t question us having pneumovax, unlike our PCP, who flat out said he would not write the script for it. So maybe look for an out-of-the way place. We went near a retirement community, so most of the people were elderly and very nice. They practically baby sat my daughter while we went through. Our arms are not very sore and we feel much better that this is done. Hang in there frankview! It’s worth it.
So far here in AZ no panic or pushing and plenty of vax to go around. I am waiting for the hospital immunization—those nurses know how to give a shot! ;-)
Here in Maine they are running a media campaign to get your kids inoculated. However the pediatrician who was aware of this campaign says they don’t have it in. Try again in 2 weeks. There is a disconnect between national story of plenty of vaccine but none in the doctor’s office.
On another note I work for a large internationl company. This is the first year the employees are being oftered the PnemuoVax along with the annual flu shot. Maxim is the provider but unfortunately they won’t vaccinate kids under 18, otherwise I would have gotten my 2 boys done at the office.
This in case this works where you are; if you have a regular MD, call the office, and ask if you have to go to a flu clinic, or can you just make an appointment to come in during regular hours and get the vaccine from a nurse. (Don’t just ask when the flu clinics are.)
Bump
All our doc’s haven’t received their vax yet - ped, my doc or dh’s. But i have seen more stories saying that there is plenty out there, it just hasn’t shipped yet, and that even getting vax’d in December offers protection since the season doesn’t start peaking until then.
Pediatric vaccine is finally here in AL, but reports are that it is going very quickly this year.
how about the mist? anyone in the states having luck in obtaining this?
i’ve been calling around but can’t seem to find it anywhere. am putting-off the shot until i’m sure the mist’s fairly inaccesssible to me for sure.
DH and I got our flu shots at the Albertson’s store today and I had a moment to talk to the nurse administering mine. My question was “what are your thoughts regarding Avian Flu?” Her facial expression changed and she said, it was inevitable, it was just a plane ride away, millions would die. She went on to say people were not suppose to live into their 100′s, being on a ventilator is something she would never want to experience, live each day as it were your last. I said I was not concerned about myself but my daughter just had a baby and I was worried about them. The nurse said very bluntly…they will die. I asked her if she had prepped. She said no that she would get it anyway because she would be working in the hospital tent caring for the sick and dieing because that is her job. Wow, that really hit me. I rather expected her to say something like oh if it ever reaches the US someone will come up with a vaccination. When I asked my two neighbors who are nurses this past spring what their plans were and what info they had received at their hospitals they both had blank looks and said they had not been inserviced at their work sites.
FDA Approves Additional Vaccine for Upcoming Influenza Season - FDA Press Release - October 5 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved FluLaval, an influenza vaccine to immunize people 18 years of age and older against the disease caused by strains of influenza virus judged likely to cause seasonal flu in the Northern Hemisphere in 2006–2007. With the addition of FluLaval, there are now five FDA-licensed vaccines for the United States for the upcoming influenza season
My kids and I got our flu shots today at my docs office-my insurance paid 100% (whew) No waiting. They said they have plenty of doses, and there were signs everywhere urging people to get shots. I mentioned to the nurse I wanted to make sure we got our shots this year because I ‘d heard so much about avian flu. She gives me a real funny look, then regains her composure. Oh yes, she said “They” are saying flu was going to be really bad this year and “they” are urging everyone to go ahead and get shots. Oh, who’s “they”? I ask. Doctors she says and thats the end of the conversation. I had a funny feeling she knew more than she was saying, but it could just be some flu-paranoia.
Now here is a weird thing-I got a pnemo-vax myself about five-six months ago and at the time I said I wanted to get it for my kids. The docs office hemmed and hawed and kept putting me off about it.Didn’t know if the insurence would pay and the doc actually said she didn’t know if “THE CDC recommended pnumo-vax for kids” Last week I brought it up again and Hey! Bingo! what a great idea! Insurance will pay 100% I find that odd.
Flu shots are “delayed” a month in the Great Lake Region also. Any preppers wanting to get together on a weekend near Chicago?
Flu shots are “delayed” a month in the Great Lake Region also. Any preppers wanting to get together on a weekend near Chicago?
I was told yesterday that my two daughters who are asthmatic and usually have a flu vaccination each year can’t have them this year because of a shortage of seasonal flu vaccine. They can’t have them because the rules of who is getting them are really tightened up - they can’t have them on the NHS as normal but neither can we buy them as the doctors have been forbidden to let people pay for them if they don’t meet the criteria.
Worried in Wales — and the criteria do not include kids with asthma? Do you know what the criteris do include?
Well the criteria do cover children with chronic constant asthma who have been hospitalised in the past with it, but they do not cover children who only get intermittent asthma or get asthma that does not require constant medication (e.g. my children only get asthma badly when they have viral infection, thus their previous flu jabs to help prevent that occurence). Beyond that I would guess that it covers people with various serious chest complaints, auto immune disease and that sort of thing. I have to admit that I didn’t ask about the other criteria as the wind was rather taken out of my sails by the news.
I was just at Jewel and today was flu shot day and the shots were gone in less than two hours. I asked if they normally run out and was told last year they did run out but this year they had “plenty”, yet they were gone! Oh well.
Worried in Wales: I’m going to try to find a recent article that says kids with asthma should have top priority—I’ll go surf now.
This is a shorty but research should help, but take this along when you go to the doc. http://tinyurl.com/z8tbt
Thanks for that Leo7. Unfortunately this new set of criteria are NHS wide, i.e. a government directive so no amount of argument on my part will make any difference. The doctors are not allowed to give the jab to anyone outside of the criteria and they don’t have much choice. If it is not even possible to buy the vaccine on a private basis then I don’t see any way to get around it.
I went today and got the flu shot and the pneumo shot. No prob with supply and the nurse said she has had a steady stream for 3 hours. She seemed very surprised when I asked for the pneumo shot, I said I have asthma and I high risk. She goes 65 dollars roll up your sleeves.
I had no problem getting my pneumo shot for myself, spouse, and 11 yr. old boy. We went to our local physician before clinic started and the nurse gave it to each of us for an out of pocket price of $50.00 each. She did question about the 11 yr. old, but I reminded her about his previous bout of pneumonia and he has had chronic strep throat ( 1 yr. 4 times in a 5 month period). DH and I are now wondering if we should even get flu shot, was considering it because I am high=risk (type 1 Diabetic,heart patient, and have had pneumonia at least 2 times in life), the next clnic is Oct. 17, and we will make decision by then.
Posie – at 23:32
On Flu Mist…this has to be the most incompetent group of sales and distribution people around. I always want to line up Flu Mist every year (since its intro). It is entirely a hit or miss proposition as to whether you’ll be able to find it. There is no way for an individual person to place an order for the Flu Mist vaccine and have it delivered to your pharmacy or a doctor. Either your doctor decides to order it or not. They decide how many they want to deal with and you have no say. Some store pharmacies are apparently going to offer it, but you just have to wait and see. Most stupid and obnoxious distribution plan going.
the onlu flushot I will have is the one that puts me in bed a week with a good book. If pan dont arrive in same period it will be fine, I need a breakoff, and gettig the flu as a young and healthy is just as good, and even cheaper ;-) Either way I will gain imunity.
My advice is: If you can find a way to get BOTH the shots…’‘’GET THEM”“”.
Here in Missouri, the Price Choppers are having shot clinics, and they don’t ask anyone about WHY they want either one….only they don’t do kids under 9 yrs old .
My mom & I were numbers 2 & 3 in line; but we were there 3 HOURS before they started ! By the time the nurses were set up; they had over 300 people !
I got both shots…a word to the wise: have them give the Pnumonia shot in the arm you do NOT use every time you turn around ! My rt arm is so sore I can’t even lift it ! I’m off to bed with a heat pack !
Interesting about the spot shortages. I got mine last week, and no problem here in southern California, walked in and sat down at Walgreens.
I was wondering about getting TWO flu shots after reading their effectiveness reduces with age (I’m 53, and a higher dose supposedly can increase effectiveness). This is always on my mind because I got the REAL flu (I THOUGHT I had had the flu before that - this illness redefined my concept of “illness”) in the early 90′s and I have to say, its an experience that makes you indifferent to living or dying - you don’t care which one as long as it STOPS!
Now I wonder if the polite thing would be to wait until the October batch! I think there must be a better way to handle this. Does it go smoother in countries with national medical?
Well, here it is in the wee hours, and I’m having a reaction to my P. shot ! :-( My fever is up to 102, both arms are swollen, red & hot….and I ache all over.
A suggestion: Try out your thermometers before you need them, and keep them shaken down. I have several of the strip ones that say my fever is 104 ( not )…and with both arms hurting and swollen from the shots, shaking down my regular mercury thermometer is impossible.
Also, this gives me a good trial run, on if I get sick during a pandemic ( in which I know—I would feel much worse) but I do NOT feel like getting up and taking care of myself; and a “bedroom flu box” would be a godsend right now. Live & learn ! As soon as I’m feeling better, that box will be put together and in by the bed. “ ….groannn…. “
Does anyone know whether Chiron is the only manufacturer of this year’s flu vaccine? They had some serious contamination issues last year or year before. I had the pneumovax last year and am having some misgivings about Chiron’s practices.
Madamspinner, sorry you’re having a hard time; hope you’re feeling better soon.
Madam Spinner:
May want to try ice instead of heat to the site.
Last year our family doctor said he was having a hard time getting enough flu shots, because the chain drug stores and supermarkets having flu clinics bought up the shots en masse, at a higher profit to the manufacturer. I think this is what they mean by “poor distribution.” Insurance companies reimburse the manufacturer at a lower price than people paying cash at Walgreens.
We ended up getting our flu shots at Food For Less, where they barely questioned us. This year it’s Costco, Walgreens, Vons, CVS etc. Every supermarket here is advertising in their weekly ad this week, the one that is sent out as junk mail in your mailbox. It was $53 for flu and pneumo together last year. Costco is $18 for flu this year.
To those having to listen to a lot of garbage about how they are somehow “not qualified” to get the shot - forget about the family doctor, go to a flu shot clinic. He may be rationing shots because he doesn’t have very many. That’s not your problem. Pneumo shots last 5 years, so get it now and you’re covered for a while. You can always go to the health department if noplace else - check your local web site.
I got both of mine at Price Chopper in the KC area…nobody was asking any questions this year…and I was alot younger then most waiting in line.
A doctors’ office may be rationing shots by asking questions….I agree---that’s not OUR problem…our problem is making sure we are protected as well as prepared, as much as possible….by almost any means available to us.
“Us” = the general public, US= the ones that will be on the low end of the vaccination-qualified chain !
P.S. One arm is good this morning, the one I had the P. shot in, is still a mess, and pretty useless. My fever is down….and I will be fixing that “bedroom Flu Box” later today…. Whoever mentioned that idea, was “right-on” !
All in all; I still vote for getting both shots this year, anyway. I’ve just had a bad reaction to mine. I must’ve gotten a pretty “viable” vial of vaccine ! Whooo !
Madamspinner – at 13:16
I had the same reaction in one of my arms — took a week for the swelling to go down!
Got my flu shot at a Food Lion. nurse gave me a website for other places offering shots www.findaflushot.com by Manim health sevices I can refer friends to. She asked if I wanted or was current for penumo shot. I’m current. Not sure if it was concern or just trying to sell a shot since I was her only customer. We talked about some common interests for 1/2 hr and still no other customers. Her company really lost money that day. She traveled 2 hours to give the clinic.
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