Demand lower than expected at some local H1N1 vaccine clinics

By Kay Quinn, Healthbeat Reporter

KSDK -- So many people showed up at an H1N1 vaccine clinic at Hollenbeck Middle School in St. Charles County Tuesday that some had to be turned away.

Meanwhile, nurses who will give H1N1 shots in St. Peters on Thursday, November 19, say they can't give away all of the line tickets available for the clinic.

What does all this say about local demand for the vaccine?

Some local health departments and the vaccine distributor, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), all agree demand for the swine flu vaccine is spotty. Some even go so far as to say it's lower than they expected.

If you were at Hollenbeck Middle School in the Francis Howell School District Tuesday, you might find that surprising. All 600 doses were given away and people still wanted more. The VNA is seeing the same demand at St. Louis County schools.

"So if a school is predicting 150, we're pretty much giving 150," said Diane Echeverria, director of the VNA.

But she agrees what's happening at some public clinics is surprising. The VNA was only able to give away about half of its line tickets for a clinic in St. Peters Thursday morning.

"And it's just kind of puzzling to us why that is," said Echeverria.

Nurses had to return about 300 unused doses from another public clinic just last Saturday in St. Charles. Those doses will be sent back to another public clinic planned in St. Charles for Saturday, November 21.

Only about half of the available doses were given out at St. Louis County's first public clinics November 7.

County health officials say they believe demand may be down for a variety of reasons, including the mistaken belief that the threat of swine flu is over.

Then there are those who are skeptical about the vaccine itself.

"Lot of people think it's a hoax did you hear that?" asked St. Louisan Carl Torizzo about the vaccine. "I just hope they're telling us how it is. I'm going to get a shot, yeah."

"I just figure it's no good for me anyway," said St. Louisan Adele Gatlin. "I don't know about anyone else."

Then there's Washington University student Mark Lamb who got a shot because he falls into the priority group under 24.

"I tend to like to stay healthy," Lamb said.

Meanwhile, the VNA wants those in the priority groups to know there are available doses ready Thursday morning in St. Peters.

"Hopefully we can get the word out that we do have extra vouchers," said Echeverria.

Remember, you have to be in a priority group to get the vaccine right now. That includes pregnant women, household contacts of children under six months of age, health care workers, people age six months to 24 years, and anyone 25 to 64 with an underlying medical condition.

You can pick up a voucher for that clinic at 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Go to St. Peters City Hall at One St. Peters Center Boulevard. You'll be given a time to get your shot tomorrow. The clinic runs until the supply runs out.

Look on this web page for a link to more clinics provided by the VNA.

A public clinic will be held in Illinois on Thursday, November 19 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Madison County Health Department, 101 E. Edwardsville Road, Wood River, Illinois.

Look for a public clinic in St. Charles on Saturday, November 21 at the Stegton Conference Center, 1450 Wall Street, St. Charles, Missouri, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.