Double Dose Of Flu Shots May Not Be Enough To Protect Critical Population

By John Voket

The unassuming vials with the bright blue and purple lettering say “Influenza Virus Vaccine,” but Health Director Donna Culbert calls them, “…liquid gold.” And while Newtown has received a double dose of flu shot supplies in recent days, it is very likely that the supply will still not meet the demand of those in most critical need, she told The Bee Wednesday.

Ms Culbert is in possession of about 700 doses, which will be supplemented by 300 doses the Newtown Senior Center will soon receive from the Connecticut Visiting Nurse Association (VNA). Another 300 doses were dispensed October 23 at the Senior Center.

But even with 1,300 total doses available, Ms Culbert said individual medical practices that had previously ordered and dispensed their own inventory, as well as facilities like Ashlar of Newtown, which received no vaccines through their network of suppliers, may end up adding more critically needy individuals to the demand side of this fragile equation.

“This year, we’re not positive that we’ll have enough of the vaccine to cover everyone who should absolutely have it,” she said. Last March, she said, the Health District ordered 1,300 doses based on the demands of 1,100 individuals taking the shot last year. But last year, the vaccines were available and were being dispensed by many local sources including doctors’ practices and even at drug and department store clinics.

Ms Culbert said since she learned of the shortage about two months ago, the Newtown Health District has been working with the Senior Center and the Visiting Nurse Association to create a priority list for potential recipients of the flu vaccine.

“People between the ages of 2 and 64 who are in good health are encouraged not to seek a flu shot this year, and should expect to be turned down if requesting one,” she said.

Priority has been placed on those in the red zone, individuals age 65 years and older, and/or those with the existence of underlying chronic medical conditions (specifically, heart disease, kidney disease, lung diseases like asthma, metabolic diseases like diabetes, blood disorders like anemia, or a weakened immune system caused by cancer or cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS, or steroid therapy).

Marilyn Place, director of the Senior Center, will be conducting a flu shot clinic for senior citizens at the Senior Center on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook on November 16to dispense the 300 doses provided by CT-VNA.

Senior citizens, aged 65 years or older, must call the Senior Center at 270-4310 to register and learn about the necessary paperwork. People who are under 65 years of age with chronic medical conditions should also call the Senior Center, and those with medical conditions should obtain documentation from their doctor to present at the flu shot clinic.

While the suggestion that more shots will be forthcoming through US government sources by December, the Health District is also collaborating with the local doctors and nursing homes to try to best meet the needs of the community.

“First we’ll be looking at the population of seniors overall,” she said. “And by next spring, we’ll use the information we learned through this experience to provide an organized network of providers, from doctors to clinics to senior centers and housing operations,” she said. “Where up to now, everyone was doing their own thing, by next year we’ll all be on the same field, and we’ll have a good idea of where every dose of vaccine is, and more importantly, we’ll know just about every person in the community who absolutely must have the shot, and we’ll prioritize the rest down from there.”

People are encouraged to continue to work with their primary care physician whenever possible, and to take preventative measures. In the Newtown Health Department, several of the staff members have already refused a shot, even though it is recommended they have it. But, Ms Culbert explained, by several employees with the greatest risk exposure getting the shot, they are in effect helping to prevent the spread of flu to other unvaccinated employees.

Ms Culbert said the Health District, the Senior Center, the VNA, and the local medical community will continue to monitor the flu vaccine availability and inform the public as information becomes available.

The state Department of Public Health (DPH) has a hotline, 800-830-9426, for members of the public to call if they have concerns about getting a flu shot this year. The hotline has received more than 2,000 calls since it was activated on October 26. Callers receive a voice mail message from DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin. Between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm, seven days a week, callers can also speak to a DPH representative. Information gathered by the hotline will be used to help guide the vaccine distribution efforts of the state and local health departments.