DC Resident for DC clinics?

[Anonymous]

Do you have to be a resident to get the vaccine in a DC clinic? DS is 22-mths and we live in FFX.

[Anonymous]

No. We live in NoVA and had our toddler vaccinated in DC last Saturday. Very smooth process.

[Anonymous]

Nope, lived in Maryland and got it tonight.

[Anonymous]

let's put it this way. you SHOULD be a DC resident to get the shot. by coming into town to get it, you're taking vaccine away from DC residents. however, the clinics don't seem to give a rat's ass about giving it to non-residents.

[Anonymous]

I am a DC resident and I disagree with the 11:51 PP. I suspect the public health community would to; for one, administrators from the local departmetns of health indicated in a Q&A published by the WashPost that: "our goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible, not to put up barriers." See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/10/23/DI2009102301652.html. Our Metro area is so fluid -- VA and MD residents coming into the District to work or for other reasons pose as much as a risk of contamination to DC residents as do other DC residents.

[Anonymous]

As long as the DC residents who want the vaccine get it, no harm having other people come to the clinics too. I'm taking my infant DC because MoCo (where we live) is not vaccinating anyone under 2 at this point.

[Anonymous]

11:51 here. Fine and dandy with me. But you can just bet that there will be barriers GALORE when the suburban jurisdictions start their clinics. you'll probably have to produce 2 forms of ID and sign your name in blood.

there are no DC clinics scheduled for the time when my DC will need the H1N1 booster, so I'll have to find it in one of the neighboring jurisdictions. i just hope they are as accommodating as DC has been.

[Anonymous]

11.51 the first two open clinics at MoCo allowed anyone to go and there were people from the tri-state region and West Virginia and even New York so I think your assumptions is completely wrong and as long as you were in line before they ran out, you got it regardless of where you lived. And unlike the DC clinics, they actually ran out of supplies. I believe the Virginia ones were the same way.

I would think if they were running out of supplies for at the DC clinics then it would be reasonable to limit the distribution but if everyone is able to get the shot, why do you care?

[Anonymous]

Now that the OP got his/her answer, I think we can let this devolve into geographical animosity. Agreed?

The rational side of me says the more the merrier, come one, come all, hooray for increased herd immunity, etc.

The angry/proud citizen of the District of Columbia in me says, Oh, NOW we're good enough for you? Hey, I know I'm not paying the taxes that are running the schools in Falls Church, but it's ok if I bring my kid over there anyway, right? Because while I could try to get my kid into a decent DC charter school, it would just be easier for me to pick the best-functioning public school system within driving distance, and avail myself of their resources that I'm not contributing to. Oh, and I also expect your members of Congress to take my calls, fix my grandma's social security problem, and vote according to my ideals. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I've just learned that the Prince George's county clinics are not requiring proof of residency.

They have opened up to more priority groups as well.

[Anonymous]

I spend more waking hours in DC than I do in my home county (MC). I'd think it to be in DC's best interest to keep business in session, and therefore to allow those that run and spend money in such businesses to be vaccinated to keep business going. I am fairly certain the sales tax I paid for lunches last week paid for the administration of my shot (my federal taxes paid for the actual shot).

[Anonymous]

BTW, is DC open to all CDC priority groups yet, or just pregnant women and children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTW, is DC open to all CDC priority groups yet, or just pregnant women and children?

As of yesterday, all CDC priority groups.

http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/doh/section/2/release/18435

[Anonymous]

thank you

[Anonymous]

Fairfax's clinic is also open to everyone, regardless of residency. It looks like all, or at least most, jurisdictions are taking the stance that it's better to have as many people as possible receive the vaccines, which would make sense given that the flu and other germs don't really stop at county and city lines.