Get Ready for the Flu
It's pretty clear that our group will not be getting a supply of flu vaccine this year, thanks to the
Chiron vaccine problem. We're already getting anxious calls about flu vaccine -- hell, my
mother called me up asking if we had any. Do you know how it feels to turn down your mother for a flu shot? Not good. Trust me on this.
I think we'll be offering a lot of prophylactic meds this year, like
Tamiflu, since nothing else is available. There is another vaccine available -
Flumist, which is administered nasally - but since it is a live attenuated vaccine, it is not approved for use in anyone over 49 years of age or who is immunosuppressed.
The shortage has spawned one good joke that I heard: before the third debate, Bush and Kerry flipped a coin. The winner got a flu shot.
posted by Dr. Alice at #
