Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Waukesha and Milwaukee Swine Flu Vaccine Clinics

Waukesha! Come one, come all!

Milwaukee, don't show up unless you're in a targeted group.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, posted online November 16:

Waukesha County's Public Health Division will hold more flu clinics this week and is targeting a wider group of people - adding adults with medical conditions - to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

Both the nasal mist and injectable forms of vaccine will be provided to Waukesha County residents who meet the following classifications:

All children ages 6 months to 18 years; people who live with or provide care for infants 6 months or younger, including parents, siblings and care providers; pregnant women; adults ages 18 through 64 who have chronic medical conditions; and health care workers and emergency medical responders.

The clinics will be held at the Waukesha County Expo Center Forum Building on Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 6:30 p.m. both days, unless the vaccine supply runs out sooner.

It turns out that Waukesha County is offering the vaccine to anyone.

From WISN, posted November 17:

The Waukesha County Health Department said all Waukesha County residents are welcome to its upcoming H1N1 vaccine clinics.

There are two currently scheduled:

Thursday, Nov. 19 -- 1 to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 24 -- 1 to 6:30 p.m.

If you live in Waukesha County, anyone can get the vaccine.

If you live in Milwaukee County, you still have to be in a targeted group.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, posted November 17:

The Milwaukee Health Department has scheduled two more public clinics to administer the swine flu vaccine.

People in the target groups can receive vaccinations from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Sarah Scott School, 1017 N. 12th St., or from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd.

The target groups are:

• pregnant women.

• people 6 months to 24 years old.

• caregivers and household contacts of infants younger than 6 months.

• people ages 25 to 64 with underlying medical conditions.

• healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients.

The health department said wait times for the vaccine may exceed an hour. To speed up the process, people can print and fill out the clinic consent form for vaccination in advance. The form is posted at www.milwaukee.gov/health.

Whether or not you have access to the vaccine is based on where you live. That doesn't seem right.

Waukesha has enough to open up its clinics to all, but Milwaukee apparently does not.

What's weird is what Paul Biedrzycki, the Milwaukee Health Department, had to say to Charles Benson, TMJ 4.

"Demand hasn't been anywhere near what we initially expected," said Paul Biedrzycki at the Milwaukee Health Department.

He wants more vaccines from the state but he also wants more people to want the shot.

"We certainly expected a lot more wanting the vaccine and that has not been the case," said Biedrzycki.

By mid November, the city expected 50,000 swine flu doses but it has received fewer than half. It also wanted to vaccinate 30 to 40 percent of the city but so far, only 3 percent have shown up at clinics.

Perhaps demand for the vaccine would be greater if Milwaukee opened up the clinics to anyone wishing to get it.

What's Biedrzycki whining about?

If you open the clinics to all, they will come.

________________

Video, TMJ 4.

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