Vaccine Numbers for 2009; Update on H1N1 Vaccine

We just completed our annual report to VFC summarizing the numbers of vaccines we have given. I thought you all might be interested in some of these factoids:

-- From January 1, 2009 to November 21, 2009, we gave a total of 20,077 vaccines. (This excludes H1N1 vaccine, but includes seasonal influenza vaccine.)

-- 15, 296 of those were vaccines that we purchased, and 4,781 were provided through the government program, Vaccines for Children (VFC).

-- We have given 3,762 seasonal influenza vaccines this year (that includes some for last flu season and some for this flu season). We still haven't received all of the 3,500 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine that we pre-ordered.

-- We have given about 1,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine, mostly to patients who are high risk (asthma, other chronic illnesses) and the infants and toddlers under age 2 years. We are starting to receive regular, if small, shipments of H1N1 vaccine.

OUR CURRENT POLICY FOR H1N1 VACCINES:

If your child is in a high risk category, including chronic illness (asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, congenital heart disease, immuno-compromised), children under two years of age, or family members of infants under 6 months of age, we will try to get you in as soon as possible.

If your child is not in a high risk category, but you would like him or her to receive H1N1 vaccine, call and we will schedule an appointment in our regular flu shot clinic.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE IS A CHARGE OF $18 FOR THE H1N1 VACCINE THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION. WE WILL NOT BILL YOUR INSURANCE FOR THIS VACCINE.