Nov 9, 2009 10:49 pm US/Central
H1N1 Vaccine Shortage Irks Docs, Patients
Two Physicians Say The State Ineffective In Delivering Supply
NORTHBROOK, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
Total chaos.
That's the way doctors describe the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine in the Chicago area -- with hundreds, even thousands, of their patients calling for the vaccine they still don't have.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports.
There's very little rhyme or reason to what's going on out there. The "haves" and "have-nots" include neighboring hospitals, school districts, even the same doctors' city and suburban offices.
Dr. Fred Cahan and Dr. Richard Weinstein spoke with CBS 2 between patients at their Northbrook office. Dr. Cahan had just finished examining 10-year-old Mitchell Harris of Glencoe.
"He's one of the lucky ones," Cahan told us, meaning the youngster was in the clear.
He had seen five potential cases of swine flu, however. Weinstein says he may have seen 15 cases. They can't be sure, because there's no reliable test yet.
Anxious parents keep calling every day. Manning the phones is Chris Peterson.
"We're looking at possibly 400 calls per day," he said.
Families are calling because the vaccine is recommended for children under 6.
"Why isn't it here? I don't like that," parent Julie Harris said.
Cahan understands the frustration, given that his office has been promised vaccine that never seems to materialize. He and Weinstein have gotten some vaccine for their Chicago office from the city, which continues its clinics for high-priority patients (though in reality, turning no one away).
Cahan said state government keeps giving his office longer estimates on when it will receive H1N1 vaccine. Most recently, he said he was told he would receive some in four weeks.
"I'm just so frustrated," Weinstein said. "I feel like a pawn in the whole situation. There's not much I can do."
Meanwhile, hospitals like Northwestern in Chicago have gotten the vaccine, while Loyola in Maywood has not. Evanston township schools will vaccinate students this week. Neighboring New Trier is still telling parents to be patient.
The city's walk-in clinics continue, while Cook and other counties that rely on the state for their vaccine keep people waiting for hours or even weeks.
Illinois health director Damon Arnold was not available to explain the delays. In the past, he has urged people to "be patient." From what those suburban doctors say, their patience is running out.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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