Swine Flu Vaccine Allotment

Remember when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was out urging everyone to get the Swine Flu vaccine?

It was on October 7.

Appearing on morning news shows to step up the Obama administration's campaign for vaccinations, Sebelius said that "the adverse effects are minimal. ... We know it's safe and secure. ... This is definitely is a safe vaccine for people to get."

..."There's going to be plenty of vaccine," the secretary said. "It's rolling off the production lines right now ... ahead of schedule, and that's good news... By the end of October we should have a substantial amount available and begin to vaccinate a wider population of folks."

..."By the end of this week," she added,"we'll begin to have injectable vaccine also available. We're dealing with five production companies. That's very good news. But the vaccine will become available as the lines clear up. So as soon as we have any vaccine available, we're pushing it out to 90,000 sites around the country. The early going is a little bumpy but we'll have a good supply by October."

Plenty of vaccine?

A good supply by October?

I guess that depends on how you define "plenty" and "good supply."

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Health officials have seen an alarming jump in swine flu cases, which now account for 15% of all diagnosed respiratory illnesses in Milwaukee, an increase from 5%, a city official said this afternoon.

In contrast, very few cases of the seasonal flu have cropped up among the population, said Paul Biedrzycki, director of disease control and environmental health at the Milwaukee Health Department.

...Biedrzycki encouraged those in high risk groups to get the swine flu vaccine at a free clinic Friday at Sara Scott Middle School, 1017 N. 12th St., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The city has already received thousands of doses out of its allotment of 12,000 doses and expects to receive the rest soon. If doses are still available Saturday, more clinics will be held at Scott Middle School as well as South Division High School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Friday, 70 to 80 city staffers will administer vaccinations at the school with 12 to 16 lines open to process people. Biedrzycki is not sure how many people will show up but expects the demand to be high. Milwaukee police will provide security.

12,000 DOSES? Is that a mistake? Even 120,000 doses wouldn't seem like much.

Milwaukee's population is around 600,000.

How does 12,000 doses translate into plenty of vaccine?

That's not even close to an adequate supply.

No wonder police are needed to provide security.