| The Blue Hill Memorial Hospital's physician offices have received a limited number of pediatric doses of flu vaccine, but not enough to vaccinate all high-risk children in the practices. The four clinics are Castine Community Health Services, Island Family Medicine, Bucksport Family Medicine, and Blue Hill Family Medicine.
The practices are prioritizing which children get the vaccine based on the Center for Disease Control guidelines specifically targeting the children with chronic conditions.
According to Amy Dobson, Director of Outpatient Services, "The practices are calling the identified high-risk families and setting specific appointment times for the children to receive their flu vaccine over the next two weeks. Unfortunately, because of the severe shortage, we are unable to provide vaccine to any child who is not receiving their primary care from our physicians."
BHMH may receive more doses, according to Dobson who adds, "We've ordered more." The hospital has not received any adult doses yet. The CDC reports no influenza cases in Maine.
In these very difficult circumstances, the Bureau of Health is making the following recommendations:
- Healthy people between 2 and 64 years of age should not be vaccinated.
- At this time, vaccine administered at rural health clinics, must be restricted to these two groups (BHMH falls under these guidelines):
- High-Risk Children (all children 6-23 months and children 2-18 years with underlying chronic medical conditions, including those on chronic aspirin therapy);
- Appropriate residents of long-term care facilities (appropriate in light of the resident's current health prognosis).
|
|
