Published: November 06, 2009 11:13 am      

Vaccine supply spotty in Johnson County

The latest swine flu update states that the national supply of the vaccine is not enough to meet public demand, and with 12,000 Texas providers asking for their share, some local doctors are getting mixed results.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has about 2 million H1N1 vaccine doses for Texas and the roughly 750,000 that were allocated Oct. 26, 27, 29 and 30 are on the way, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

But the vaccines go to hospitals, local health departments and DSHS regional offices to treat pregnant women, children and health care workers first, leaving Johnson County family doctors with little to none.

“It’s not necessarily that we’re opting not to, there’s none available. We can’t buy any even if we wanted to, and there’s no place to order it from,” said Jaime Ortez, office manager for Dr. Sheila Horsley at 11803 South Fwy. in Burleson. “Every single place is back-ordered until January, and by January, there’s no point in even doing it.”

Johnson County is one of the hardest hit counties in the hardest hit region of Texas, with Tarrant and Dallas counties reporting 220 hospitalizations and 15 deaths collectively as of Oct. 24.

Johnson County has only reported 11 hospitalizations and no deaths, according to the DSHS.

Of 13 doctors offices in Johnson County contacted, 10 reported they had not placed an order for swine flu vaccinations.

The other three either had some available or had were out.

Only one office, the Crowley Family Medical Clinic at 125 S. Texas St. in Crowley, said it has the nasal mist available but that is going quickly.

“We’ve gotten some, and we’re waiting for more,” said office manager Eileen Simon. “All I’ve got is the nasal mist, I maybe have 20 of those and then we’re waiting for, I think about 200 of the swine flu injections coming.”

Karyllee Rhodes, office manager for Dr. Michael Rhodes at 1161 S.W. Wilshire Blvd. in Burleson, said their office ran out of the nasal mist form of the H1N1 vaccine and are waiting for more.

“We haven’t had a positve flu test here in a couple weeks,” she said. “But as far as swine flu, we’ve already used it up, and I’ll be able to order some more as they become available.”