Some St. Louis County residents can get swine flu vaccine Saturday
St. Louis County will distribute 10,000 doses of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine for free at five high schools on Saturday.
Preference will be given to county residents who fall into five high priority groups: pregnant women, children 6 months to 4 years old, caregivers for infants younger than 6 months, children from 5 to 18 years old who have underlying medical conditions like asthma or diabetes and health care workers.
Bring proof of county residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill.
Line tickets will be distributed starting at 7 a.m. in a drive-thru at the five high schools: Hazelwood West, Jennings, Lafayette, Lindbergh and Maplewood-Richmond Heights. (Tickets at Maplewood-Richmond Heights will be distributed at Sunnen Products Company, 16 Sunnen Drive in Maplewood).
The line tickets will designate either a morning or afternoon vaccine session between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information and further details, click here.
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I have acute lung disease with less than 20% lung function and have been told by multiple doctors that I can’t survive the h1n1 flu. It’s been recommended that I not leave my house until I am able to get the vaccine. The trouble is I have to go out frequently for appointments at doctor offices, hospitals or some other medical facility where chances are at their highest that I will encounter infected people. I have been repeatedly told to be patient as I am on the priority list for the vaccine. Imagine my surprise when this week the County Health Department took me off the priority list and now I don’t qualify. Every day I struggle to breathe through an overwhelming feeling of suffocation. The thought of being any sicker than I already am is simply unbearable for me to imagine… I just do not have the strength. The studies released this week indicate most of the people dying of this flu strain are like me - adults with underlying lung disease. But the health department, in it’s wisdom, has decided that healthy children of all ages (healthy children who may have a greater chance of getting it but not dying from it) and I am not entitled to save my life. I simply don’t understand the reasoning especially since I would have been able to get one if I lived in a different county or in Illinois.
Welcome to the cold hard reality of the government being in charge of your health, “Scard.” Can’t wait for Obamacare, can you?
How do you prove that you fall into one of these categories? I am pregnant and only 8 weeks along so I am not showing. Will we have to bring proof of our pregnancy to get a shot? I do not want to be turned away because I don’t look pregnant. And that goes for people who are care-givers for infants, how do you prove that you qualify? Hopefully someone can answer this question so if I need proof I have enough time to get one from my doctor.
Scared, I feel for your situation. You definitely are one that should get the vaccine. I hate to say this, but when the Government runs something, even as simple as vaccination clinics, it gets screwed up and innocent people in need suffer. Just imagine this situation on a grander scale,like Government run healthcare. Good luck Scared.
mapgirl - I would recommend having your OB/GYN fax you a prescription for the flu shot.
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Scared, this is incorrect. While most people are having only mild symptoms with H1N1, some perfectly healthy children have died from this flu. That is why school districts are attempting to immunize all children with parental consent. Consistently, children have been in the high risk group.
Tim - Not only is your comment insensitive…it’s also dumb.
Mapgirl, Your obgyn should be getting the vaccine at their office, as most obgyn’s are priority to receive some vaccines. I am also pregnant and my obgyn office is getting a shipment of vaccines in for the pregnant patients. IMO that would be the best way for you to receive the vaccine or at least inquire on how to get the vaccine, by starting with your doctor that is.
I can answer a couple of these questions.
Mapgirl — The vaccines will be distributed at the public clinics on the honor system. You don’t have to show proof of your eligibility in the high risk groups, including pregnancy or asthma. You may however be asked for proof of residency. Ob/gyns should be getting H1N1 vaccine directly from the health department, but those deliveries have been slow.
Scared — The high-risk priority groups were tightened because of the vaccine shortage. But healthy children 5 to 18 were also taken off the list. Only kids 6 months to 4 years old, and kids 5 to 18 with medical problems are now considered high priority and eligible for the vaccine at these public clinics.
Tim and TheTruth-
I’m confused by your comments. Are you volunteering to facilitate the distribution of these vaccines yourself? If not you, then who should oversee the handling of this massive program? Just another example of Monday-Morning-Quarterbacking from those who have nothing positive to contribute to the healthcare debate. If you are so dissatisfied, could you suggest some solutions? That would be refreshing.