It’s unfortunate, unintentional that H1N1 vaccine ran out

Alan Reed
Managing editor

It’s unfortunate, and also truly unintentional, that some children who stood or sat in a long line for the first H1N1 flu vaccine clinic at the Upper Missouri Health Unit in Williston this past Friday didn’t get the vaccine.

The Herald and other media outlets for the past few weeks have shared several stories about the unfortunate limited availability of the H1N1 vaccine. This information has been repeatedly shared — locally, regionally and nationally — to help the public understand the reality of the overall situation at this point in time regarding the status of H1N1 vaccine supplies.

Why there isn’t more vaccine available is a good question and is worthy of serious discussion. But it’s important right now for all of us to employ an important and worthwhile mindset — patience.

As UMHU public information office Daphne Clark shared on today’s front page, health unit staff involved in this past Friday’s clinic got some criticism. As Clark appropriately stated, determining how many people any allocation of vaccine may serve is not an exact science.

If the type of vaccine is allocated for children, there are considerably more unknowns. If the type of vaccine allocated is for adults, there are fewer unknowns, but some questions still remain.

I had the opportunity to step inside the health unit Friday afternoon at the peak of the clinic to see first hand the process that was used to work with the throng of hopeful parents with children in tow.

You first enter a room to fill out the necessary paperwork for each child. After spending about 10 minutes in this area, I have two specific recommendations.

The first is to bring a second adult with you to help fill out the forms if you are bringing more than one child to the clinic. Secondly, USE CAPITAL LETTERS as directed by the staff in the appropriate places on the forms. Improperly filled forms are rejected and you must start over.

After leaving the forms room, you then go to your first review station, and then a second after entering the main facility for the health unit. Follow the large, yellow arrows that direct you through the building and your next stop is a room for the vaccine.

This past Friday’s clinic had the option of receiving the vaccine FluMist or injection. Those who can take the FluMist help to extend the limited supply of injection vaccine.

After getting the vaccine, you then follow the yellow arrows to the north back exit of the health unit to leave.

Friday’s clinic was extremely well organized and well staffed, with over 15 individuals to assist people through the process before heading to a room for the vaccine.

In the initial form room, there are several enlarged samples of how to properly fill out the paperwork. There also are computerized instructions projected onto the walls to guide individuals.

Those involved in the clinic remained very upbeat and personable, and were very good about answering questions.

Again, the fact that some people had to leave the health unit Friday without getting the vaccine is indeed unfortunate. At the same time, anyone standing in line should have known that possibility existed, given the ongoing publicity that’s been provided concerning the current limited vaccine availability.

It’s also unfortunate the state did not receive vaccine soon enough to have clinics this week. As the Herald reported Tuesday, the state has suffered its first H1N1 victim.

The sooner ample supplies of vaccine arrive, the sooner it may be obtained by those people who want it. But as Clark also stated in today’s page 1 story, larger allocations aren’t expected until sometime next month.

We all can only hope the vaccine arrives sooner than later to help offset the possibility of more deaths, or serious illness that can require extended hospitalization and long personal recovery time.