Thursday, September 17, 2009
Drugstores prepare for flu vaccine distribution, NYC is on alert
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Fears of swine flu are expected to increase demand for the vaccine, and national chain drugstores have started to offer seasonal flu shots early, with the more dangerous swine flu H1N1 vaccine to become available after October 15.
Many of Walgreen’s 7,000 stores and 350 Take Care retail clinics, and, in comparable numbers, CVS stores and their Minute Clinics have made shots available as of beginning of September in many of their pharmacies, Rite Aid started earlier in their 5,000 locations. For CVS store locations and flu shot dates you can call 888-FLU-SHOT or 800-SHOP-CVS, for Walgreen’s schedules call 800-FLU-9950, Maxim Health Systems (largely Rite-Aid and Duane-Reade based) list is available at 877-962-9358. Mostly, the shots are given on specific clinic days, the local ones are often starting early in October, and calling the stores first is strongly advised. If they do not know yet, call the above national numbers; in fact, calling them may give you a different list of stores than the one printed below, based on your phone area code and first three numbers and therefore more applicable to your area.
Medicare and certain insurance recipients can pay via their coverage (Medicare recipients should bring their cards and proof that Schedule B coverage is not through an HMO), not covered individuals will pay cash. At Walgreens the fee is $25 for flu shots, and $35 for pneumonia shots, the latter not available in all locations (very advisable, check with your physician about your prior shot’s expiry date). CVS prices are comparable.
Please note that the Centers for Disease Control warn us of an oncoming H1N1 season, starting week 35 (first week of September), and continuing. While H1N1 shots are not available (Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius hopes that a limited supply of the vaccine to arrive before the scheduled October 15 date), the usual precautions – no social kissing, cover your coughs and sneezes, and wash hands frequently - with soap, 15 seconds – are strongly advised.
CDC also speaks of using the post-exposure anti-flu medicines, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relienza, both need prescriptions), not to cure but to decrease the ability of the virus to reproduce. Insofar as the H1N1 spread in our area, the hard-to-understand CDC Newsletter seems to indicate that in Week 35 the Region 2, which includes NY and NJ, has a lower than the national incidence of swine flu, better than New England’s. Their figures deal in terms of hospital admissions, and have comparison rather than absolute count value, measuring period to period and area to area incidences... Thus, 2,121 seasonal and 494 swine flu occurrences since October 2008 only show that H1N1 makes up 1/5th of the hospital-treated incidences.
The Medicare website indicates that, while one flu shot per year is covered, a second, if necessary (first a seasonal flu shot, then an H1N1 shot) will also be paid for. Note that the priorities for H1N1 shots are highest in the age 2-4 range, then to age 17; seniors 65 and above have a low incidence. Health workers will have first call for the injections.
The local pharmacies that will offer flu shots are as follows:
Walgreen stores: at 20 Astor Place, corner Lafayette Street (212-375-0734) and 198 First Avenue at 18th Street (212-777-0740, by appointment).
CVS stores: at 275 Third Avenue (22nd Street), 212-677-4677; 215 Park Ave South (at 18th Street) 646-602-8237, first clinic for ages 9+ will be on 10/22; 158 Bleecker Street (at Thompson Street), 212-982-3369.
Maxim Health Systems: Duane-Reade pharmacy, 926 Third Ave (at 18th Street), 212-598-0339; Rite-Aid, 408 Grand Street (at Clinton Street), 212-529-7115 (in October); Rite-Aid, 516 East 14th Street 212-979-2455 Oct 8, 2-6PM; Duane-Reade, 300 Park Avenue South (at 22nd Street), 212-533-7580, Oct. 9, 10-2.
New York City is also making preparations to combat the expected second outburst of swine flu, although the plans are less defined. On September 1 Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg declared that H1N1 vaccine will be distributed to students, once the vaccine becomes available after October 15. Health clinics will turn into “flu centers,” to relieve hospitals. Schools will be closed only as a last resort. Signs will be posted warning students to observe precautions, such as covering coughs and washing hands, and to report symptoms to school nurses. After the spring H1N1outbreak, findings throughout the country indicate that school closings do little to control the flu, and, and severely disrupt family routines, forcing parents to stay home. Students will be expected to observe precautions, such a covering coughs and washing hands, and will report their symptoms to school nurses.
As to the specifics, NYC will offer free vaccine at every public and private elementary school. Middle and high school students will be expected to go to student vaccine sites that will be opened on weekends. Parental permission will be required for the injections.
Fears of swine flu are expected to increase demand for the vaccine, and national chain drugstores have started to offer seasonal flu shots early, with the more dangerous swine flu H1N1 vaccine to become available after October 15.
Many of Walgreen’s 7,000 stores and 350 Take Care retail clinics, and, in comparable numbers, CVS stores and their Minute Clinics have made shots available as of beginning of September in many of their pharmacies, Rite Aid started earlier in their 5,000 locations. For CVS store locations and flu shot dates you can call 888-FLU-SHOT or 800-SHOP-CVS, for Walgreen’s schedules call 800-FLU-9950, Maxim Health Systems (largely Rite-Aid and Duane-Reade based) list is available at 877-962-9358. Mostly, the shots are given on specific clinic days, the local ones are often starting early in October, and calling the stores first is strongly advised. If they do not know yet, call the above national numbers; in fact, calling them may give you a different list of stores than the one printed below, based on your phone area code and first three numbers and therefore more applicable to your area.
Medicare and certain insurance recipients can pay via their coverage (Medicare recipients should bring their cards and proof that Schedule B coverage is not through an HMO), not covered individuals will pay cash. At Walgreens the fee is $25 for flu shots, and $35 for pneumonia shots, the latter not available in all locations (very advisable, check with your physician about your prior shot’s expiry date). CVS prices are comparable.
Please note that the Centers for Disease Control warn us of an oncoming H1N1 season, starting week 35 (first week of September), and continuing. While H1N1 shots are not available (Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius hopes that a limited supply of the vaccine to arrive before the scheduled October 15 date), the usual precautions – no social kissing, cover your coughs and sneezes, and wash hands frequently - with soap, 15 seconds – are strongly advised.
CDC also speaks of using the post-exposure anti-flu medicines, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relienza, both need prescriptions), not to cure but to decrease the ability of the virus to reproduce. Insofar as the H1N1 spread in our area, the hard-to-understand CDC Newsletter seems to indicate that in Week 35 the Region 2, which includes NY and NJ, has a lower than the national incidence of swine flu, better than New England’s. Their figures deal in terms of hospital admissions, and have comparison rather than absolute count value, measuring period to period and area to area incidences... Thus, 2,121 seasonal and 494 swine flu occurrences since October 2008 only show that H1N1 makes up 1/5th of the hospital-treated incidences.
The Medicare website indicates that, while one flu shot per year is covered, a second, if necessary (first a seasonal flu shot, then an H1N1 shot) will also be paid for. Note that the priorities for H1N1 shots are highest in the age 2-4 range, then to age 17; seniors 65 and above have a low incidence. Health workers will have first call for the injections.
The local pharmacies that will offer flu shots are as follows:
Walgreen stores: at 20 Astor Place, corner Lafayette Street (212-375-0734) and 198 First Avenue at 18th Street (212-777-0740, by appointment).
CVS stores: at 275 Third Avenue (22nd Street), 212-677-4677; 215 Park Ave South (at 18th Street) 646-602-8237, first clinic for ages 9+ will be on 10/22; 158 Bleecker Street (at Thompson Street), 212-982-3369.
Maxim Health Systems: Duane-Reade pharmacy, 926 Third Ave (at 18th Street), 212-598-0339; Rite-Aid, 408 Grand Street (at Clinton Street), 212-529-7115 (in October); Rite-Aid, 516 East 14th Street 212-979-2455 Oct 8, 2-6PM; Duane-Reade, 300 Park Avenue South (at 22nd Street), 212-533-7580, Oct. 9, 10-2.
New York City is also making preparations to combat the expected second outburst of swine flu, although the plans are less defined. On September 1 Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg declared that H1N1 vaccine will be distributed to students, once the vaccine becomes available after October 15. Health clinics will turn into “flu centers,” to relieve hospitals. Schools will be closed only as a last resort. Signs will be posted warning students to observe precautions, such as covering coughs and washing hands, and to report symptoms to school nurses. After the spring H1N1outbreak, findings throughout the country indicate that school closings do little to control the flu, and, and severely disrupt family routines, forcing parents to stay home. Students will be expected to observe precautions, such a covering coughs and washing hands, and will report their symptoms to school nurses.
As to the specifics, NYC will offer free vaccine at every public and private elementary school. Middle and high school students will be expected to go to student vaccine sites that will be opened on weekends. Parental permission will be required for the injections.
# posted by Wally Dobelis @ 5:30 AM 
