askdrjim, influenza, vaccines, Prevention
Flu Season
Tue/Oct/07 10:46 PM
Every year about this time there is a mad rush. Patients and their families begin to call about the availability of flu shots. We start asking folks if they want them. We hear the same stories of past allergies and "it gave me the flu." The government starts to remind us of how important getting the shots are. And the business of influenza starts. Influenza is a public health issue and, although the health departments do provide some vaccine to providers and give some themselves, the vast majority of Americans now will get their shots from hundreds of sites: mega-stores, pharmacies, schools, senior centers etc.
This fragmented approach coupled with marketing from middle men who distribute vaccine for a profit is a great example of how the American system fails the public. Most influenza is spread and fomented by children and in the school systems. This source then spreads into the community eventually affecting the very young and the very old. For years the target audience was the one most likely to agree to vaccine (and pay)....the elderly. Never mind that the response to immunizations as we age is far less than in the young. Never mind that the young are spreading the disease. This was pure supply and demand and stores were there to help with the hype. And in the race to be first (to get the $$ from the anxious public) shots are given earlier and earlier each year. Never mind that the immunity from the shot wanes after several months so giving too early may still not ensure complete community coverage.
In the past few years there has been more emphasis on preschool and now finally school children. This will ultimately be a better use of the fixed dollars but we still have a fragmented system. I wish the profit was removed. I wish we had an immunization policy in this country that provided basic immunizations for contagious diseases and epidemic diseases free of charge to all. I wish that the policy would use the science to distribute the vaccine to those most likely to spread the disease and those most susceptible to it.. I wish my fax machine would stop spitting out "Flu vaccine special price" sheets from middle men.
But this is America. We eventually get to the right answer after exhausting all other possibilities first! By the way our shots will be available Oct 24th and 31st in the PM.
This fragmented approach coupled with marketing from middle men who distribute vaccine for a profit is a great example of how the American system fails the public. Most influenza is spread and fomented by children and in the school systems. This source then spreads into the community eventually affecting the very young and the very old. For years the target audience was the one most likely to agree to vaccine (and pay)....the elderly. Never mind that the response to immunizations as we age is far less than in the young. Never mind that the young are spreading the disease. This was pure supply and demand and stores were there to help with the hype. And in the race to be first (to get the $$ from the anxious public) shots are given earlier and earlier each year. Never mind that the immunity from the shot wanes after several months so giving too early may still not ensure complete community coverage.
In the past few years there has been more emphasis on preschool and now finally school children. This will ultimately be a better use of the fixed dollars but we still have a fragmented system. I wish the profit was removed. I wish we had an immunization policy in this country that provided basic immunizations for contagious diseases and epidemic diseases free of charge to all. I wish that the policy would use the science to distribute the vaccine to those most likely to spread the disease and those most susceptible to it.. I wish my fax machine would stop spitting out "Flu vaccine special price" sheets from middle men.
But this is America. We eventually get to the right answer after exhausting all other possibilities first! By the way our shots will be available Oct 24th and 31st in the PM.
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