My H1N1 Vaccine Experience
Unless you've got little kids or are under 24 (and apparently the young people care not for this vaccine, if the Post is to be believed), you probably haven't even tried to go get an H1N1 vaccine yet. The District government only late last week opened up its free vaccine clinics to adults over age 24, and for the time being, that only includes adults with underlying health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, or those who are currently or will soon be caregivers of children under 6 months.
I have a history of mild to moderate asthma that's generally triggered by two main outside influences: a severe allergy to cats, and influenza. Pretty much every time I get the flu, I end up in urgent care or the ER because I can barely breathe. So on Saturday afternoon, I went to Cardozo Senior High School to get my shot.
The first thing I noticed was how empty the place seemed. Cardozo is Ward 1's main vaccine deployment facility, and I'd heard that there had been long lines earlier in the day, but there were maybe six people ahead of me, tops, when I arrived around 3 p.m. The clinic is also extremely well staffed and organized, so there was very little confusion about what I was supposed to do when I arrived. I filled out the single form they gave me, and then took it up to one of the nurses. You don't need to bring any kind of ID, medical records or doctor's note to prove that you have one of the qualifying conditions, but you may need to answer a couple of questions about your medical history. After that, I spent maybe five more minutes waiting in line to see one of the vaccine providers. She followed up with her own questions about my condition, then promptly gave me a quick, single shot in the left arm, and it was over.
I was fairly shocked at how fast and easy the process was, and I wasn't alone. The woman ahead of me in line speculated that we may have just gotten lucky and arrived during a lull. She was there because her daughter is about to give birth at any moment and she plans on helping with the newborn, and she said she had tried to get a shot a couple of days before at Wilson High School in Ward 3, but that the line when she arrived there was around the block.
If you've already been to get your H1N1 vaccine, let us know what your experience was like in the comments. And if you're still waiting to be eligible, it should be opened up to all adults by Nov. 16 at the latest. You can get more details about the District's H1N1 vaccine clinics at flu.dc.gov.
Filed in News and tagged District, flu, H1N1, swine flu, vaccine
So let's review:
Global pandemic: Check
Shortage of vaccine: Check
Vaccine reserved for high-risk groups: Check
Some sort of proof that you are in one of these groups required to the vaccine: Of course not.
I live around the corner from the school and there was a line before the doors opened at 7AM and a wait of 3+ hours around 10AM. I went back at 3PM as you did and whisked through the process in less than 30 minutes.
Got the vaccine a week ago at Kelly Miller Middle School (49th St NE). The place was far from empty, but so well organized I was in and out in 20 minutes.
When I turned onto 49th from E. Capitol, I saw the street was jammed. 3 or 4 people in slickers with orange safety stripes kept traffic moving. Once inside, I was pointed to the signin desk, then to a line, then into the gym where I was pointed to a seat, then to a desk where I got the vaccine.
Very well staffed and organized.
One issue - I wasn't asked for ID to prove I'm a resident. Hope that was an oversight.
It wasn't an oversight, DOH is not checking IDs at the clinics.
wonder what the percentage of ward 9 residents is getting their shots at DC clinics?
Didn't know that was the actual practice. Shortsighted.
The vaccine and the clinics are paid for with Federal Tax dollars. DC residents were getting vaccines for their kids in Montgomery county before they became available in DC. The clinics all over the area are open to all who are in the high risk groups currently and eventually everyone else regardless of their zip code.
Good point. If the goal is to prevent pandemic, checking ID's seems a bit short sited and counter productive.
Everyone's health is at stake, let's just get over the whole us them thing.
Then let's hope the dosages allocated for DC included estimates for the many from MD that came to DC for their shots.
But most likely it didn't.
Darwin not happy.
is there any problem with interactions with the regular seasonal flu shot? i got that last week at work, and i'd like to get the H1N1 shot as well.
The nurse who gave me my shot said you don't have to wait at all. She said you could get them at the same time if you wanted. However, it should be noted that I am not even close to being a medical professional, and am merely passing along what this one nurse told me.
You don't need to wait if you get the shot but if you receive the mist and want to get the mist for the other vaccination then it is recommended that one wait 28 days between the two. There is concern that since the mist contains live virus that people might get sick when combining the two rather than activating the immune system. The shot form is inactivated (dead) virus so it does not present that problem.
I crewed a show on H1N1 and the flu yesterday, and according to all 3 doctors on the show, you can get the regular flu vaccine AND H1N1 at the same time, and they all encouraged everyone to do so (rheumatologist, pediatric infectious disease specialist, and general practitioner). When supply increases, it's what I plan on doing!
The whole story that the mainstream press have chosen to ignore is that if the antigen for H1N1 was known earlier it would have been wrapped in with the seasonal flu shot and none of this would be occurring. We would all need one shot or mist. That however would force the press to admit that the H1N1 vaccine is manufactured the same exact way as the seasonal flu shot and stop much of the fear mongering over it.
Here here. I learned more about both vaccines in the 2 hours in listening to these doctors than anything I've heard on the news on read online in the papers. I can't fathom why the press doesn't say what you just said.
I think there's just a suggestion that you not get both in nasal mist form--either get both as shots or one as a shot and the other as nasal).
I woke up early to get the H1N1 at Cardozo this past Saturday. It took a little longer than 2.5 hours for the whole process (waiting in line for the doors to open, waiting in more lines, and then actually getting the shot), but everyone was helpful and polite, so it wasn't bad at all.
I did have one gentleman ask, "You're 24?" when I handed my form over, but he didn't ask for ID (I am 24).
We took the little people on the first day that DC had the clinics to Cardoza. We were 300th in line but had snacks and stuff to keep the kids accupies as if being in that big auditorium with lots of nice ladies handing out free candy wasn't enough for them. I agree that it was very well run and the line moved but we were pretty far back. My kids did not like getting the actual shot but had fun on the stage before the moment of doom. I will be back in a few weeks to get the wee ones boosters and hopefully me a shot.
Pork!
I got mine at Wilson High School last Thursday and had to wait 3.5 hours out in the cold in a line full of screaming children, even though I got there right on time (at 5pm). I almost didn't get it, too! They were running out and were only going to give it to pregnant women. I guess I chose a bad time to go.
I went to Wilson today. Similar line of screaming children. I showed up at 4:30 and there were already about 150 people in line ahead of me. Finally got the shot around 6:15.
I got mine at George Mason University (Fairfax Campus) today. They had the nasal spray available for students, faculty, and staff. I arrived two hours after they started, but I still expected a line, however I filled out the paperwork and was done in just about 5 or 6 minutes.
I even heard students outside the clinic saying that they refuse to get the vaccine, even though it is recommended, and not to mention free and painless.
I'll admit I'm reluctant to get the shot. I stopped getting the seasonal flu shot because I've had reactions to it that were much worse than any flu I've ever contracted.
Hello my name is Tom Durkee and I was one of the coordinators at last night's Wilson Sr. High innoculation event. I was the guy in the suit. Last night we vaccinated close to 1,000 D.C. residents with the H1N1 shot which, for the most part, went relatively smooth.
NO, we do not check ID's. During a pandemic or national emergency, it was determined that the extra step of verifying identification at the door would be too time-consuming. Yes, I am sure people who didn't qualify for the vaccine slipped through (non-DC residents, those over 24, or those without an actual underlying medical condition), but the entire purpose of this vaccination event is to get the most people innoculated in the least amount of time with the fewest possible problems.
During an epidemic/pandemic or bioterror event, a lot of confusion exists as to what to do and why. The media can be helpful as it has been for us lately, but right now we are seeing a surge of people interested in receiving the vaccine while the supply of vaccine won't peak for another 2-3 weeks. Please be patient as we try to get those most at risk vaccinated with the smallest inconvenience. Screaming kids are but one of the problems we must deal with.
I am happy to answer your questions about this or any other H1N1 event. We hope to continue these innoculations as we receive more vaccine.
Thank you,
Tom Durkee, MBA MPH MHCA EMT-P
MWCOG BEPS Planner, D.C. Dept of Health
Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Administration
http://umich.confidentialresume.com/tomdurkee
Holy shite... a prompt, clear, helpful response from the guy in the suit. That suit guy (as a general category of folk) is hardly ever the one giving useful information on new media. Thank you, sir!
Derek:
Thank you for providing this information, and I hope that you can answer a question. I am a local EMT who was asked to help out with the clinics, but I could not get an answer as to how I myself could get inoculated. I have concerns about getting exposed to the virus and bringing it back to my place of employment. How can the local health providers get inoculated if they don't work for a hospital?
Sorry, I meant to address that to Tom Durkee.
I know lots of people who have gotten it. I'm getting it this week, along with my 6 year old son. I can't wait to be protected, I hate the flu!
I suppose you are wondering if anyone had any crazy side effects and the answer is no. This H1N1 vaccine is made in exactly the same way as the yearly flu shot, same ingredients and all, so I know it is safe because I get that shot every year.
Pro Acai Max
thanks to everyone for the responses to my question. in case i didn't make it clear, i didn't have the option to get both shots when i got the seasonal one. my workplace was only offering the seasonal shot. i'd have gotten both if it was an option. i feel like people think that i turned down an H1N1 shot on purpose or something...
I made no such assumption. You asked a very legitimate question. The CDC has not done a great job communicating the facts to the general public and has allowed the fear mongering to spin out of control. We scientists are not so great at PR. I get a little over zealous about vaccines. I worked in vaccine development and regulation for many years and even though I no longer work in the field I do keep up with it and my former colleagues.
mommyworks: i'm sorry if you took that as an accusation. i absolutely didn't mean it to come across that way. if i've offended you, i apologize.
No not at all. I was hoping that I did not offend you. Like I said I get a little overzealous about these things or as my husband jokes that I drank the kool aid wrt vaccines.
At this point I'm rather glad that I already had the H1N1 and now I don't have to worry about the vaccine.
I didn't have it too bad, although I did miss a few days of work. My dad, on the other hand, was sick for two weeks.
Yeah I've been trying to get my family, including 6 month old baby, access to the vaccine for several months now. Nobody had it. Nobody could get it.
Then two weeks ago we all got the swine flu. We're still sick.
The doctor still says she can't get the vaccine. And even if she could get it, the baby is 6 months now - he has to be LESS THAN 6 months for us to get it. And anyway we've already gotten the swine flu now. Everyone I know has the swine flu. Still no vaccine.