Oct 6, 2009 5:56 pm US/Central
Some Doctors, Pharmacies Already Out Of Flu Shots
Focus On H1N1 Virus Has Consumers Scrambling To Get Vaccines
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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A hospital worker gets a flu shot.
CBS
It's enough to make you panic: health officials have recommended that you get shots for both the H1N1 flu virus and the seasonal flu, but some doctors and pharmacies are out of the seasonal flu vaccine.
CBS 2's Jim Williams reports that people have been paying attention to flu concerns, and heading to doctors' offices and pharmacies in big numbers.
Chicago pediatrician, Dr. Scott Goldstein said that this year all of his parents have been asking about the seasonal flu vaccine for their children; up significantly over last year.
"It's saying that people are keeping up with what's going on in the flu world," Goldstein said.
With health officials sounding the alarm about the H1N1 flu, there has been a run on seasonal flu shots.
Nancy Salman, the pharmacy manager of a downtown Walgreens, has been working hard to keep up with the demand.
"We've had an unprecedented amount of consumers receiving flu shots this year," Salman said.
Tuesday morning, her store was out of the seasonal flu shots; she got replacements in the afternoon.
"It's reassuring to know our customers are being proactive," Salman said.
In all of last year's flu season, Walgreens gave 1.2 million shots across the country. This year, in a little more than month, Walgreens has already doubled that number.
Though there's a separate shot or nasal spray for the H1N1 flu, many have been covering all their bases.
"If nothing else, I decided absolutely this year, I'll get one," consumer Tangella Maddox said.
"It made me get it a lot sooner than I have in the past," said Sue Gitelson, who normally gets a flu shot in November.
Some doctors have been reporting they are out of the seasonal flu vaccine and won't have replacements for weeks.
Goldstein said there's no shortage in his office.
"We have plenty of it, right now, yes," Goldstein said.
Health officials had important advice for the public: don't panic. There might be a shortage in some places, but they insisted that, eventually, there will be enough shots for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu to cover everyone who wants them.
The H1N1 shot will not be widely available for a couple more weeks.
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