H1N1 Vaccines in NoVa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here on Casey Health Center. They do not require residency and i just got back. There was no line whatsoever. My husband also got the shot and the whole process was less than 15 minutes. The shots however are not thirmerosol free but i do no believe any of the H1n1 shots will be. I personally think the benefits outweigh the risks!

Are they only vaccinating priority groups or can I (a parent of a toddler) get a shot?

There were other women there that were not in the priority groups so you should be ok. Call them up and ask them. Also my husband got the shot. They said that they are not turning anyone away.

[Anonymous]

Just called the Alexandria Health dept and dialed the ext for h1n1 questions.. asked the guy that answered where to find the vaccine for an under-2 child and he didn't think there was a separate vaccine.. then said they are not a priority group, only age 2-24.. is this correct?? or did I get bad information?

[Anonymous]

Children can get the vaccine starting at 6 months. Arlington is apprently not vaccinating those under 2 right now since they dont' have thimerosal-free. Perhaps Alexandria City has also decided to have the same restriction? But, he's not correct that those under 2 are not a priority. Seems like there is a lot of misinformation out there!

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the pp who gave the info on the Arlington vaccination site. I ran over there and walked right in a little after 11:00 a.m. today and got my vaccine. I brought along my 18-month old as well, but unfortunately they did not have the vaccine for toddlers under 2 years old. They told me that they did not know of any sites in Virginia that have the prediatric vaccine for under 2-year old. So my search continues.

[Anonymous]

The arlington vaccination site has a call-back list for people with under-two year old that they said they will call as soon as they get the vaccine. Unfortunately, it looks like you have to be physically present to get on this list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to the pp who gave the info on the Arlington vaccination site. I ran over there and walked right in a little after 11:00 a.m. today and got my vaccine. I brought along my 18-month old as well, but unfortunately they did not have the vaccine for toddlers under 2 years old. They told me that they did not know of any sites in Virginia that have the prediatric vaccine for under 2-year old. So my search continues.

Were you in a priority group? They didn't want to vaccinate me (40 year old/not pregnant) but parent of 4 year old with asthma.

[Anonymous]

They aren't vaccinating people in Arlington who aren't in the priority group. I saw them turning some men away, but that could have been for some other reason. The person who gave me the shot said that they're not sure when/if Arlington will receive the preservative free shot.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax cancels two swine flu vaccine distributions

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/20/AR2009102001792.html

[Anonymous]

The Arlington county site will not vaccinate children unless they are 3 years old. I brought my 2 year old there today for his vaccine (he has been hospitalized multiple times for asthma complications from regular colds). We were turned away because Arlington does not have the themerisol free vaccine and they have a policy of not giving vaccines with themerisol to children under the age of 3.

I wish I had known this before I took 2 hours off of work to do this. It is just wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Arlington county site will not vaccinate children unless they are 3 years old. I brought my 2 year old there today for his vaccine (he has been hospitalized multiple times for asthma complications from regular colds). We were turned away because Arlington does not have the themerisol free vaccine and they have a policy of not giving vaccines with themerisol to children under the age of 3.

I wish I had known this before I took 2 hours off of work to do this. It is just wrong.

But, on the website, it says:
The clinic at 3033 Wilson Blvd. 2nd Floor, will be open daily from 8 am to 4 pm when supplies are on hand to provide H1N1 vaccine to people in these priority populations:

Pregnant women
Those caring for children younger than 6 months of age
Persons 6 months to 24 years of age
Persons 25 to 64 years of age with chronic medical or immunosuppresive conditions
Healthcare workers and EMS staff with direct patient care duties

They sound like they've gotten some information mixed up! It's one thing if parents decide not to give the shot because of preservatives, but the gov't should allow kids under 2 to get the shot if the parents decide it's okay.

[Anonymous]

But, on the website, it says:
The clinic at 3033 Wilson Blvd. 2nd Floor, will be open daily from 8 am to 4 pm when supplies are on hand to provide H1N1 vaccine to people in these priority populations:

Pregnant women
Those caring for children younger than 6 months of age
Persons 6 months to 24 years of age
Persons 25 to 64 years of age with chronic medical or immunosuppresive conditions
Healthcare workers and EMS staff with direct patient care duties

They sound like they've gotten some information mixed up! It's one thing if parents decide not to give the shot because of preservatives, but the gov't should allow kids under 2 to get the shot if the parents decide it's okay.

Agreed, which is why I insisted on talking to several staff members. Bottom line - even though it sounds like they are operating under faulty information, my 2 year old son with severe asthma was refused the vaccine today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here on Casey Health Center. They do not require residency and i just got back. There was no line whatsoever. My husband also got the shot and the whole process was less than 15 minutes. The shots however are not thirmerosol free but i do no believe any of the H1n1 shots will be. I personally think the benefits outweigh the risks!

Are they only vaccinating priority groups or can I (a parent of a toddler) get a shot?

There were other women there that were not in the priority groups so you should be ok. Call them up and ask them. Also my husband got the shot. They said that they are not turning anyone away.

I want to thank the posters who noted the Casey Clinic. I would never have found it otherwise. I made an appointment yesterday and went there this morning and got my shot. It took about a half hour from when I arrived. There are chairs to sit in while you wait. The only odd thing, they aren't keeping track of the order in which people arrive, and there is no line, so pay attention to who is there when you get there. I gather from what I overheard that they are limiting the shots to pregnant women and are giving the nasal spray to others. I heard one of the staff say they are getting shipments every day. I hope this helps someone else!

[Anonymous]

The Casey Clinic appointment line isn't answering with a live person and hasn't been for hours so I can't make an appointment. What would happen if I just went there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Casey Clinic appointment line isn't answering with a live person and hasn't been for hours so I can't make an appointment. What would happen if I just went there?

Yeah, I have the same question....

[Anonymous]

Apparently the Casey Center is closed the afternoon of the third Wednesday of every month. That's probably why you can't get through.