Have you been to the Arlington flu shot clinic?

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth. I called my pediatricians (Sleepy Hollow) to ask about this issue. They said that they will NOT be receiving thimerisol-free H1N1 shots and they will be EXTREMELY rare to track down. Sleepy Hollow (and all Capital Area Pedatrics affiliated practices) are only vaccinating immuno-suppressed and other very ill children right now. They said that when they DO get more H1N1, they are going to vaccinate kids under 2 with the regular thimerisol vaccine because they believe the substatiated risks of getting H1N1 for very small children is much greater than the undocumented risk of thimerisol. I am not trying to relive the thimerisol debate. I'm just passing on that (1) getting thimerisol-free vaccine in time to effectively vaccinate your child under the age of 2 maybe very difficult and (2) SH and other area practices have decided to recommend getting the shot over waiting for the thimerisol free. That said, Arlington County is apparently not in agreement.

[Anonymous]

I went to the Arlington County walk-in clinic today with my son who is under two and found out while I was filling out the paperwork that he could not get vaccinated. There is a note on the application you have to fill out. I got the vaccination for myself since I am pregnant. I did have to include my address on the application and since I live in Arlington the residency issue did not come up. I spoke to the supervisors at the site about getting my son vaccinated. They told me that they did not know of any place in Virginia that has the pediatric vaccine for under two-year olds. The subject of Thermisol-free shots did not come up in the conversation. They had me put my name and phone number on a list that was on a basic sheet of lined notebook paper. They had no idea of when or if they would get the vaccine for the under-two population. They said they would call the people on the list as soon as they get news of the vaccine for under-two year olds and schedule their shots.

I was one of those that got a little emotional about there not being any information on the Web site or the recorded message about the clinic you get when you call the number posted on the web site to call and make sure the clinic is open and they are vaccinating people. I left work and took my son out of daycare to get the shot. I would have gone to get a shot for myself, but it would have been a whole lot easier without the toddler-in-tow. I feel for those people who made the special trip only to be turned away.

[Anonymous]

Just got back from the Arlington clinic. THEY ARE REFUSING TO GIVE ANY VACCINE TO CHILDREN UNDER 3. My child is 2.5 with severe asthma, which he has been hospitalized for several times. The woman turned us away because they will not vaccinate children under 3. She gave me a form to fill out if I wanted to be contacted if/when the received themerisol free vaccines, and I told her I don't care about themerison free, I just want the regular vaccine and she repeated that they are not available for 2 year olds at this time.

Is it legal for Arlington to refuse to vaccinate a child in the CDC designated high risk category because of a scientifically disproven urban legend about themerisol and autism??????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got back from the Arlington clinic. THEY ARE REFUSING TO GIVE ANY VACCINE TO CHILDREN UNDER 3. My child is 2.5 with severe asthma, which he has been hospitalized for several times. The woman turned us away because they will not vaccinate children under 3. She gave me a form to fill out if I wanted to be contacted if/when the received themerisol free vaccines, and I told her I don't care about themerison free, I just want the regular vaccine and she repeated that they are not available for 2 year olds at this time.

Is it legal for Arlington to refuse to vaccinate a child in the CDC designated high risk category because of a scientifically disproven urban legend about themerisol and autism??????

Yes, it's legal.

[Anonymous]

They're really disorganized over there, I saw a baby getting the flumist shot when I was at the clinic. I think it really just depends on luck and who happens to take your form.

[Anonymous]

Only one person mentioned the thimerasol issue to me. Others just said they did not have the proper dose. I just looked it up and the brand they are using for the shot is Sanofi. The package insert says that it is safe to use in infants as early as 6 months. They just get .25 instead of .5. It comes in a prefilled syringe without thimerasol and a multi vial dose with thimerasol that you can just take out how much you need. In researching all other brands as well it looks like all multi vial brands have the thimerasol and the single dose syringes do not. So if this is the case I am not sure why they could not just take out the pediatric dose from the vial. Anyways we are on the list and hope they get the infant version soon. If it is thimerasol free all the better but we will be getting it either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I got on the list by going there to get the shot for my 3 and 13 month old. They would only vaccinate the 3 year old saying that they did not have the shot for the under 2 pop. I ended up getting the shot and my son got the mist. The people behind me in line came with their under 2 year old to get them the shot and were very upset when they were told that their under 2 could not get the shot (speaking to the people at the info/forms desk). They said that this info should be posted on the website and it was not. They asked to speak with the person in charge who came out and told them they could put their daughter on the list to be called when they got the under 2 version and that in the mean time they would vaccinate both parents who were with her to protect the child. When I got into the clinic I asked the lady who had told them about the call list for under 2. She told us to ask this other nurse. When I did she did not know anything about it. She then asked the original lady who said there is not one yet lets start one on a piece of paper. So right now there should be a call list if you go down there that you can put your name on. Now I am not sure if they will actually call this list or not but at least we tried.

Yes both versions the mist and the shot require 2 doses for kids under 10. They give you a card telling you when to come back.

They did not require us to show proof of residency in Arlington so I assume anyone can go.

Did you get the shot because you're pregnant? They told me they were not vaccinating parents.

[Anonymous]

I was not at the clinic today but know that there are certain shots that are only for older kids. Go to DrSear's website for more info.

So it might not be a thimersol issue at all- rather just what the shots they have have been approved for.

[Anonymous]

Be careful in this chain - I think some people are talking about H1N1 and some are talking about the regular seasonal flu shot and there might be some confusion. For the regular seasonal flu shot, INOVA is offering it now to everyone over 6 months although I learned today that certain locations are running out of the under 3 pediatric vaccine from time to time and without warning and they aren't necessarily able to tell you if and when they will have more (the difference in the 2 vaccines was not expressed to me as a thermisol issue). There is confusion apparently on this chain and at the sites about what age should get the pediatric and non-pediatric regular forms. Some nurses said my 3.5 year old had to have the pediatric and others said he did not, differing on whether the cut off was before 3 years or including 3 years. In fact, the form I filled out was for the pediatric shot but when I sat down with DS to get the shot the nurse over ruled it and gave him the non-ped shot b/c he was 3. Clearly, no one knows what is going on. Regarding residency, for INOVA you can come from anywhere. I understand that there is a shortage of seasonal flu shots nationwide. I am concerned that when 28 days runs out and my son needs his second shot that I won't be able to find any left.

[Anonymous]

The Arlington Clinic that took place today was an H1N1 vaccination clinic (not seasonal flu shot).

I haven't heard of people having as much trouble and confusion over the seasonal flu shot, although I know there are also shortages.

[Anonymous]

My son was turned away from the Arlington clinic for the H1N1 vaccine because he was not over 36 months.

[Anonymous]

I went to the Arlington clinic today. I have a preemie and two young boys. The boys weren't with me, but they gave me the shot. I am also from Alexandria City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got back from the Arlington clinic. THEY ARE REFUSING TO GIVE ANY VACCINE TO CHILDREN UNDER 3. My child is 2.5 with severe asthma, which he has been hospitalized for several times. The woman turned us away because they will not vaccinate children under 3. She gave me a form to fill out if I wanted to be contacted if/when the received themerisol free vaccines, and I told her I don't care about themerison free, I just want the regular vaccine and she repeated that they are not available for 2 year olds at this time.

Is it legal for Arlington to refuse to vaccinate a child in the CDC designated high risk category because of a scientifically disproven urban legend about themerisol and autism??????

For seasonal flu injected vaccine, there is a special dosage for children who are under 36 months. It does not have to do with the thimerosol issue.

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/vaxadmin.htm

What is the appropriate dosing of a child less than nine years of age being vaccinated for the first time?
Children less than nine years of age being vaccinated for the first time should receive two doses of influenza vaccine, spaced at least 4 weeks apart in the initial year. For inactivated (injectable) vaccine, the dose for children aged 6-35 months is 0.25cc, and the dose for children aged 36 months-9 years is 0.5cc. For live attenuated vaccine (intranasal), the dose for children of all ages (and adults) is a 0.2 cc sprayer.

I realize you were asking for the H1N1 vaccine, but perhaps the issue is the same -- there is a special dosage for children under 36.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got back from the Arlington clinic. THEY ARE REFUSING TO GIVE ANY VACCINE TO CHILDREN UNDER 3. My child is 2.5 with severe asthma, which he has been hospitalized for several times. The woman turned us away because they will not vaccinate children under 3. She gave me a form to fill out if I wanted to be contacted if/when the received themerisol free vaccines, and I told her I don't care about themerison free, I just want the regular vaccine and she repeated that they are not available for 2 year olds at this time.

Is it legal for Arlington to refuse to vaccinate a child in the CDC designated high risk category because of a scientifically disproven urban legend about themerisol and autism??????

For seasonal flu injected vaccine, there is a special dosage for children who are under 36 months. It does not have to do with the thimerosol issue.

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/vaxadmin.htm

What is the appropriate dosing of a child less than nine years of age being vaccinated for the first time?
Children less than nine years of age being vaccinated for the first time should receive two doses of influenza vaccine, spaced at least 4 weeks apart in the initial year. For inactivated (injectable) vaccine, the dose for children aged 6-35 months is 0.25cc, and the dose for children aged 36 months-9 years is 0.5cc. For live attenuated vaccine (intranasal), the dose for children of all ages (and adults) is a 0.2 cc sprayer.

I realize you were asking for the H1N1 vaccine, but perhaps the issue is the same -- there is a special dosage for children under 36.

I was told by the nurse that it's not even a smaller dosage, which you could draw from a regular vial. It's a different concentration within the vial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I got on the list by going there to get the shot for my 3 and 13 month old. They would only vaccinate the 3 year old saying that they did not have the shot for the under 2 pop. I ended up getting the shot and my son got the mist. The people behind me in line came with their under 2 year old to get them the shot and were very upset when they were told that their under 2 could not get the shot (speaking to the people at the info/forms desk). They said that this info should be posted on the website and it was not. They asked to speak with the person in charge who came out and told them they could put their daughter on the list to be called when they got the under 2 version and that in the mean time they would vaccinate both parents who were with her to protect the child. When I got into the clinic I asked the lady who had told them about the call list for under 2. She told us to ask this other nurse. When I did she did not know anything about it. She then asked the original lady who said there is not one yet lets start one on a piece of paper. So right now there should be a call list if you go down there that you can put your name on. Now I am not sure if they will actually call this list or not but at least we tried.

Yes both versions the mist and the shot require 2 doses for kids under 10. They give you a card telling you when to come back.

They did not require us to show proof of residency in Arlington so I assume anyone can go.

Did you get the shot because you're pregnant? They told me they were not vaccinating parents.

They will vaccinate pregnant women, but also primary caregivers of newborns / infants under 6 months.