| Author |
Message |
    
Kathy Leventhal
Citizen
Username: Kml
Post Number: 30
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 5:50 pm: |     |
There is now enough flu vaccine so that people not in high-risk categories can be inoculated. Reports are that the worst of the illness is to be in our area next month.
Maplewood's clinics have ended, but we gave serum to Dr. John Qualter of 264 Boyden Avenue (next to the Quik Chek off Springfield Avenue). I just checked with them at 973-761-5200 and they are still administering the vaccine for $25.
Kathy Leventhal, Maplewood Township Committee, President of Maplewood's Board of Health |
Spanish Inquisitor
Citizen
Username: Sinq
Post Number: 44
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 11:26 pm: | |
Dr. Qualter is making money off taxpayer funded serum? Interesting concept. |
Kathy Leventhal
Citizen
Username: Kml
Post Number: 31
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 12:03 am: | |
There is no taxpayer money involved. Maplewood buys the serum from the state and community members either pay the town directly or supply their information for Medicare billing.
When the clinics were completed and the risk requirement lifted, Maplewood sold the remaining vaccine to Dr. Qualter knowing that he would make it available to the community.
Feedback is that the process is working out well after the notice in the News-Record and information given out at townhall.
Kathy |
Spanish Inquisitor
Citizen
Username: Sinq
Post Number: 45
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 12:07 am: | |
Thanks for clarifying. In your initial post you said "gave", not "sold". |
Kathy Leventhal
Citizen
Username: Kml
Post Number: 32
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 6:35 pm: | |
FYI:
As of today, Dr. Qualter has only about 10 doses of the vaccine left.
Kathy |
emmie
Supporter
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 435
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 6:48 pm: | |
I went yesterday as I have a high risk job. I am really glad I got it. It takes about two weeks to become fully immunized once you get the vaccine. Thanks for the info Kathy.
The last time I had the flu, 1995, I couldn't even get my head off the pillow. I was out sick for the whole week. Never again! |
Rebecca Raines
Citizen
Username: Robin_realist
Post Number: 246
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 7:45 pm: | |
In past years those of us who work for the township were given the vaccine free of charge. It was seen as a benefit to the town (less absenteeism) and the staff (less suffering). We really appreciated this small benefit. This year we were told not to ask for shots unless we met the high risk qualifications. Of course those who really need it should get it. Now I hear about extra vaccine....only on MOL! It seems that there could have been some communication to the township employees concerning the extra before it was sold to a local Doctor for his practice. One older person I work with still cannot get it through her own doctor and doesn't want to pay to go to a different doctor. Who can blame her for that? The bottom line is that only one or two of the library staff got the vaccine. I'm really hoping that the flu doesn't get started there, we'll all get it. R |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 191
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 9:28 am: | |
(slight drift)
There was a very interesting piece in the NY Times (Week in Review, last two or three weeks?) about how flu vaccine should be allocated. Turns out that it may be more important to vaccinate the people most likely to get and spread the disease (in this case probably school children and their families) than the people most likely to have complications (for example, the elderly in nursing homes, who are vulnerable but to complications but have relatively few contacts for transmission). The projected savings in lives (esp. the elderly, if I recall), hospitalizations and $ were very substantial. (Anybody want to link this, as I'm incompetent in that area?)
Maybe the whole distribution process needs to be rethought. Maybe RR, as someone who comes in contact with a lot a people (particularly children?) would be a prime candidate? |
emmie
Supporter
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 436
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 11:12 am: | |
School health employees as well. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 4837
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 1:12 pm: | |
At least in NYC, school health employees received a priority for receiving flu shots this year because they come under the heading of health care professionals.
Ideally, we would have sufficient flu vaccine to go around in future years. Hopefully, the circumstances which lead to this year's flu vaccine shortage: too few manufacturers/distributers of the vaccine, dependance on overseas suppliers, lack of adequate quality control inspections, limited to non-existant back-up suppliers in event of extraodinary problems can be eliminated in future years.
The major problem still seems to be coming up with a vaccine which will be effective in counteracting whatever strain of flu is around in a given year. Plus, the whole issue of increased drug resistance is a huge one. |
Rebecca Raines
Citizen
Username: Robin_realist
Post Number: 247
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 4:11 pm: | |
Thank you Kathy for your quick response to my questions. R |
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