Worry Among Docs Over Clamor for h1n1 Flu Vaccine

October 5, 2009

Worry Grows Among Doctors Over Clamor for Flu Vaccine

By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS

The fear of swine flu is being compounded by new worries, this time among

primary care doctors who say that they are already being swamped by calls from

patients seeking the new vaccine, and that they are ill-prepared to cope with

the nationwide drive to immunize everyone, particularly children and chronically

ill adults.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the first doses

of vaccine on Monday. But many doctors, especially pediatricians, say they know

little about the program and have been deluged with questions.

At the same time, the pediatricians are struggling to figure out how to

administer perhaps thousands of doses quickly in small offices with limited

staff, while still dealing with other illnesses.

Some said they were considering hiring nurses just for the vaccinations and

setting aside days when children would be vaccinated in alphabetical order.

At Westchester Pediatrics, an office with 6,000 to 8,000 families in Hartsdale,

N.Y., exasperated doctors have added a new choice to the office answering

machine: " If you have a question about the flu vaccine, please dial 6. " Pressing

6 produces a further message saying that the swine flu vaccine is not yet

available, and to keep checking the CDC.gov Web site for updates.

For those who are not satisfied, a sign in the office waiting room counsels

patience.

Paterno, the office manager, summed up the situation as " a nightmare. "

" People want it, " Ms. Paterno said of the swine flu vaccine. " When they listen

to news reports, they pick out bits and pieces — `swine flu, get it' — but they

don't quite comprehend that we don't have it yet, and we're dealing with a quite

affluent socioeconomic group here. "

When asked whether his office had received vaccine inquiries, Dr. Herbert

Lazarus, a pediatrician on the Upper West Side, said only half-jokingly: " Do you

think that's accounting for two-thirds of our phone calls, or

three-quarters? " ...

The vaccine is being distributed free to local jurisdictions, like city and

state health departments, which are responsible for taking orders from doctors,

hospitals, school systems and the like. Normally, doctors order vaccines

directly from manufacturers...

" It's a logistical nightmare, " he said.

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