Area hospitals to get H1N1 vaccines directly

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By Anthony Gottschlich, Staff Writer Updated 2:07 AM Thursday, October 29, 2009

Hospitals throughout Ohio should start receiving H1N1 vaccine shipments directly this week and next, rather than waiting on local health departments to deliver their orders, state health and hospital officials said Wednesday, Oct. 28.

The new shipping arrangement was made last Friday during a meeting between the state health department and the Ohio Hospital Association after the hospital group complained that hospitals had yet to receive their H1N1 vaccine allotment for patients and health care workers.

Mary Yost, the hospital association’s vice president for public affairs, said too many hospital officials were dealing with the health department on vaccine issues. Now each hospital will have just one to two point people for the task. Also, hospitals learned the most popular form of vaccination — the single-dose, pre-filled syringe — was in high demand and short supply, so they should request multi-dose vials or the FluMist vaccine instead.

Miami Valley Hospital, the Dayton region’s largest hospital, changed its order to the multi-dose vials Tuesday and is expecting 7,000 doses next week, said Barbara Johnson, the hospital’s vice president of operations.

To date, Children’s Medical Center of Dayton has received 800 of 6,500 vaccine doses ordered, spokeswoman Betsy Woods said. The hospital hopes to get the bulk of its order next week, she said.

Hospitals aren’t the only health care providers frustrated with the short supply of H1N1 vaccine. Dr. Sandra Mendel of Eaton said she’s Preble County’s only pediatrician but she’s yet to receive any H1N1 vaccines. The schools aren’t holding flu clinics, and “hysterical” parents have been calling her office concerned about their sick children.

“Who can fault parents? I mean, everyone’s worried,” Mendel said.

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