Opinion
Health officials assert vaccine is plentiful; experience says otherwise
LETTER — Posted Nov. 2, 2009
Regarding: "With seasonal flu shots plentiful and H1N1 vaccines expected soon, early vaccination is urged" (Article, Sept. 21): Our practice is located in Northern Virginia, in a suburb of Washington, D.C. We are a primary care, family practice group with three MDs and one nurse practitioner. As of today we have received 10 vials or 100 doses of the seasonal vaccine out of the prebooked order of 100 vials.
Furthermore, we prebooked Fluvirin, and the order we received was FluLaval. We have heard that other medical offices have experienced the same situation and that our office is not unique.
The pharmacies and grocery stores have received allotted doses, but not medical offices. Therefore, we strongly disagree that the vaccine is plentiful.
Edward M. Friedler, MD, Annandale, Va.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/02/edlt1102.htm.
