Chesterfield postpones clinics for swine-flu shots
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MORE Flu facts - Separate fact from fiction and learn how you can protect your family from the virus. FLU-SHOT CLINICS Upcoming H1N1 flu vaccine clinics at Chesterfield County schools: Tonight (postponed): Providence, Alberta Smith, Bellwood and Crenshaw elementary schools Tomorrow (doubtful): Bon Air, Curtis and Bensley elementary schools |
For the second consecutive day, H1N1 flu clinics scheduled in Chesterfield County are being postponed because of a lack of vaccine.
Clinics scheduled for tonight have been postponed, and clinics were postponed last night after those held at four elementary schools Monday night used up the county's entire supply -- 1,320 doses.
Those scheduled for tomorrow aren't looking promising, either.
County Health Department Director William R. Nelson said yesterday that he ordered more than 32,000 doses and, at most, he may receive 5,000.
"It's not coming off the assembly line fast enough," Nelson said.
Nelson also addressed complaints about the clinic held Monday night at Clover Hill Elementary School, during which some parents waited more than four hours for their children to be vaccinated. He said he has heard that parents were upset because adults were vaccinated along with students.
"If people insist on being vaccinated, we cannot turn them away," he said. However, "the school-based program was intended to vaccinate children."
At one point, Nelson said, he took a bullhorn outside and explained to those waiting in line that if adults received vaccinations, children wouldn't get them.
"Once the adults understood that, they all stepped aside," he said.
Clover Hill parent Brooke Teefey took two of her four children to the Clover Hill clinic and was there for more than four hours.
When she arrived at 4:15 p.m., "there was already a line that was wrapped around the school and into the parking lot," she said.
She said that after about three hours, and seeing many adults walking out wearing a bandage, the announcement was made that only children would be vaccinated.
"People were getting really frustrated," Teefey said. "Everyone knew it was for the children."
Parent Lisa Doyle said her 8-year-old daughter has a short window of time to be vaccinated because of illnesses she has had recently, combined with heart problems she has had since she was a baby.
Doyle said that when her daughter gets sick, it's sometimes a matter of life and death.
But Doyle said her pediatrician ran out of the vaccine, and now the Health Department has run out. She said she was told she may have to wait until later this month when her daughter's school, Swift Creek Elementary, has a clinic.
But that's only if vaccine is available. Doyle said she was told she can't take her daughter to another school's clinic.
When the Health Department holds clinics for the general public, "you would assume all the high-risk children have been taken care of," she said, referring to what happened at Monday night's clinics.
But as of yesterday afternoon, Nelson said no vaccine had arrived.
Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or
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Reader Reactions
Midlo, I went home and re-read the sheet given to my child after I saw the story on the news. The sheet given to Jacob’s Road students *clearly* states at the very top of the sheet it is for the Jacobs Road students only. Granted the rest of the sheet references facts only, but still, there is a clear indication the upcoming clinic (if it happens) will be for students at Jacobs Road *only*, not adults or children of another school.
Simba2323 - I think you are right on the money about the drug companies - ridiculous. If this whole H1N1 thing is a sample of how well we’d manage in another deadly virus outbreak (like the Spanish Flu in 1918 which killed my great-grandmother), then we are all in trouble. Let’s hope some swift changes are made immediately.
My3kids- Thank you! Maybe the people we need to be upset with then, are the profit making drug companies?
This is just another of many stories that could be subtitled “Chesterfield Struggles with Everything that Comes Along”.
Simba2323 - it’s not an issue with not having ordered enough - plenty has been ordered. But there has been a manufacturing delay (who knows why)which is why many clinics are now being postponed. In theory, they have ordered enough for everyone who wants to be vaccinated to get one. But the execution of that plan has clearly not gone well to date.
While it is clear that the school clinics are not being properly run (who is responsible - Virginia Department of Health??), if you read the newspaper or ever watch the news, then you know there is a vaccine shortage right now and that high-risk groups are being targeted first. So regardless of whether or not you were asked if you wanted a shot too, all thinking adults should know they are not in the highest-risk group (unless you actually are) and should decline in order to allow the students to receive their shots. Just because it’s offered doesn’t make it right!!!
To the elite well to do parents in Clover Hill you should have known that the vaccine was in short supply and it’s always kids first. Now as a result of your selfish actions many kids went without and are vulnerable. Just because you feel you were “entitled” to receive the shots doesn’t make it so. There is no way, no excuse that is acceptable to explain your greed and lack of concern for our kids.
Thank you for the clarification anonymous! That’s what this conversation needs is facts, not only thoughts. What I wonder every year at this time is why year after year there is NEVER enough vaccine? Can’t the ‘power’s that be’ learn from the previous year and manufacture/distribute more? It seems simple to me. Count the people in a county or city and then take off 10% and order/manufacture that amount. Should be plenty for those that want/need it. And why do the private doctor’s offices not just order enough for their current patient load? Just some of my thoughts!
Okay, after the comments by ‘anonymous’, I change my statement to ‘Shame on Chesterfield County!‘.
I would like to clarify a statement in the article. I was in attendance at one of the Chesterfield clinics Monday night. I went with the understanding that the clinic was for students only, and took my 2 children who are both students in Chesterfield. I had no expectation of getting the shot myself. When we arrived we were met at the door by one of the officials running the clinic. She clearly stated it was for parents and children. I even questioned that it was supposed to be children only. She said “it is for anyone that wants it.“ I asked if they had enough, and she said they were getting more shipments in the following day for the other clinics.
When it was my turn in line to get the necessary forms to fill out, the person at the table asked “How many kids & how many adults?“ and handed me separate forms for each of us. There was a different form for adults, so they came prepared and ready to vaccinate adults obviously. THIS WAS OFFERED. no one “insisted” on anything. If you are going to say “shame on you” and point fingers, then point them at the people that mismanaged this from the word go. I never saw anyone “insist” on anything and I would have gladly stepped back if I thought it would have prevented a child from getting the vaccine.
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