Hospital fielding calls about H1N1 vaccine

Supplies of H1N1 influenza vaccine are in high demand at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, evidenced by the five to 10 phone calls regarding the vaccine the hospital receives each day.

However, with government regulations requiring Avera Queen of Peace to distribute the vaccine only to health-care workers who take care of pregnant women or young children, it could be some time before the public will have more access to the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, as of Oct. 28, 16,870,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine had been shipped. Of those, 62,100 had been delivered to South Dakota.

Initial doses of H1N1 vaccine are currently available for members of high-risk groups, including healthcare workers, pregnant women, those in contact with infants younger than six months and children ages 6 months to 4 years. Children between the ages of 5 and 18 with chronic health conditions also can acquire the vaccine.

Vicki Lehrman, compliance and safety executive for Avera Queen of Peace, is one of two Avera employees in charge of distributing the H1N1 vaccine in a region that stretches from Chamberlain to Canistota and extends as far north as De Smet.

Since receiving the first shipment on Oct. 6, the hospital has received 510 doses. Of those, 390 have been the mist, which can only be ingested by those between the ages of 2 and 49.

“There are a lot of health-care workers ages 50 and older or individuals that, due to health issues, should not take the mist,” Lehrman said. “There are a lot that need vaccine yet.”

Even though dispensation is limited by state edict and the “moderate to very small amounts” shipped weekly to the hospital, Lehrman she’s happy with the progress the hospital has made so far.

“We’ve got all of our OB (and) pediatrics doctors covered and all of the family practice doctors covered in town,” Lehrman said.

Mark Schilling, Corn Palace director and manager of the Mitchell Area Point of Distribution, said he hopes to receive shipments of both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines in the next month. After that, the vaccines will be distributed to qualified individuals at area schools.

“There’s probably nothing that we’ll be able to do before Dec. 1,” Schilling said. “When we have something, we’re going to let people know.”

Tags: news, local, h1n1