First doses of swine flu vaccine arrive in South Florida: A few private physicians offer nasal spray inoculations for healthy people

Oct 16, 2009 (Sun Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ZZFJV | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- South Florida got its first dose of swine flu vaccine Thursday when a few private physicians began giving nasal spray inoculations, a sneak preview of Monday's launch of official campaigns by public health agencies.

Packages with 300 vials of H1N1 flu vaccine arrived at the MD Now Urgent Care Centers in Boynton Beach and Lake Worth two days ago, and after some training, staffers began offering it to patients Thursday afternoon. The same scene played out at a few other locations in South Florida.

"Somebody's got to start it -- somewhere, somehow -- so we might as well be the first," said Dr. Peter Lamelas, chief executive of the six-clinic MD Now chain. "I don't know if we're going to get a rush of people lining up to get it, or if people are going to be cautious because it's new."

The health departments of four South Florida counties are delaying their public swine flu programs to start simultaneously Monday morning, but some doctors and clinics received their initial shipments.

The nasal mist can be used only for healthy people ages 2 to 49, so the early doses do no good for groups at highest risk for swine flu and its complications: pregnant women, babies aged 6 to 24 months and people with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs and immune systems.

Swine flu shots that are safe for everyone are due to arrive next week, and health officials said they will urge everyone to roll up their sleeves as more vaccine trickles in over the coming weeks. They insist that everyone who wants a shot can eventually get one.

Federal officials paying for and controlling the swine flu vaccine gave Florida an initial allocation of 246,000 doses of nasal spray and 196,000 swine flu shots, the Florida Department of Health said Thursday, with 5.4 million due to arrive by Dec. 4.

Officials want to reserve the limited initial doses for high-priority groups at biggest risk from H1N1 virus, including young people ages 6 months through age 24, parents of newborns, pregnant women, the chronically ill and health care workers.

"All of our initial [nasal spray] allotment is going to the Broward County schools next week," said Candy Sims, a spokeswoman for the Broward County Health Department.

Doctors, clinics and hospitals are on their honor to vaccinate high-priority groups first.

Some high-risk people said they will run to their doctors the minute the vaccine arrives.

"We are waiting anxiously, very anxiously," said David Schwartz, whose 13-year-old daughter has severe asthma and is helping promote the vaccine for the American Lung Association in South Florida. "If Leia would get the flu today, it would be a devastating illness for her."

Children under age 18 make up 10 of 121 swine flu deaths in Florida and two of 16 in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The virus has sent about 150 people in the two counties and 808 statewide to the hospital, almost half of whom were under age 24.

Pregnant women are at elevated risk as well, yet some are reluctant to get the shot, Hollywood obstetrician Nigel Spiers said. The vaccine has shown few side effects so far, other than arm soreness and mild cold-like symptoms.

"This is one of those cases where the risk of getting a severe case of H1N1 is far worse than any theoretical risk from a vaccine," Spiers said.

Flu activity in Florida is widespread, which is unusual for early fall. Virtually all flu cases are swine flu, and officials expect H1N1 to be the dominant strain this year. So far, millions have been exposed, with most cases so mild that people recover on their own within days.

Meanwhile, South Florida is seeing spot shortages of regular seasonal flu shots because of elevated demand and a temporary halt in supply as manufacturers switched to making swine flu vaccine, officials said.

The vaccine provider WellCheck Clinics said it was forced to cancel seasonal flu shots slated this weekend at shopping malls around the country, including Boynton Beach Mall, Coral Square Mall and Sawgrass Mills.

Supplies of half-size children's doses, which are usually made in limited quantities, have been in tight supply for several weeks. But now some providers are running short on adult doses, too.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, immunization director at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged the spot shortages Tuesday but said people will be well protected if they wait until later in fall to get a shot: "We're expecting a lot more doses in November," she said.

Bob LaMendola can be reached at blamendola@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4526 or 561-243-6600, ext. 4526.

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