Communities anxiously await hard-to-get swine flu doses

By MARK SCHAAF

Posted: Oct. 27, 2009

Area health departments continue to battle shortages of the swine flu vaccine.

The Oak Creek Health Department has received a limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine and was preparing for a clinic scheduled for Wednesday morning. If it's anything like clinics in nearby communities, residents should prepare to be patient.

Hundreds turned out at a clinic in Wauwatosa last week. Residents there started lining up at City Hall more than an hour before the clinic opened and some waited for 90 minutes or more.

Prioritizing recipients

In Oak Creek, the limited supply of the vaccine meant that it was only be available to certain at-risk groups, including health care workers, pregnant women, children ages 6 months through 4 years old and household contacts of infants younger than 6 months, and it was to be given until the supply ran out.

Regionally, the supply is limited enough that a joint vaccination clinic between Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and St. Francis scheduled to be held in mid-November at Oak Creek High School is in jeopardy, Health Officer Judy Price said.

Health officials are still moving ahead with their plans, but the clinic may have to be postponed depending on the availability of vaccine.

"A lot of work has been put into these," Price said. "It would be a shame if it's cancelled, but it's beyond our control."

Little to none available elsewhere

Some communities, including Hales Corners, were still waiting for the H1N1 vaccine to be delivered.

In Greendale, the supply was so limited it will given out by invitation only, at least until the village has enough to conduct a larger-scale clinic, Greendale Health Officer Sue Shepeard said.

Health officials say anyone with flu-like symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, chills and body aches should remain home until 24 hours after the illness subsides.

Residents should also practice basic hygiene and stay away from those who are sick.