Health Director Planning Final Flu Shot Clinic

By John Voket

If you were putting off getting a flu shot, even though you were qualified to get one, now is your chance. Newtown Health Director Donna Culbert is confident that virtually every local resident with a critical and absolute need for a vaccine has received one during the past few weeks.

And she is ready to begin serving the leftovers.

Ms Culbert reported last week, that she has a comfortable surplus of shots and is taking names of town residents who meet the state mandated requirements to receive one.

“Those shots will be scheduled in a one-time clinic, probably at the Senior Center, or if we only get a few more responses, we’ll schedule them through our office or Kevin’s [Community Center],” she told The Bee Tuesday.

The latest scenario is far from situations in other parts of the state and country, however. As flu season approached, the nationwide shortage of the vaccine initially affected Newtown’s Health District.

At that time, Ms Culbert learned that the first shipment of shots she had ordered earlier this year would be cut in half. But since the shortage was first announced in August, remaining vaccines from the original order were supplemented by units from a Visiting Nurse Association allocation. Those additional shots were dispensed on November 23 during a clinic held at the Senior Center.

“Now it’s time to use them or lose them,” Ms Culbert she said. “We’ve canvassed all the town medical practices and determined all the critical need patients, including those at local nursing facilities, have received their shots.”

She said more than 100 leftover doses will be made available to qualifying candidates at a final flu shot clinic, as long as Ms Culbert receives enough responses from Newtown residents who are entitled to the vaccine.

“That is for those folks who are 65 years of age or older, and or adults that have chronic medical conditions —for which the flu would have serious complications — that can be documented with a doctor’s note,” she said.

According to Ms Culbert, approximately 200 individuals were registered for the November 23 clinic. She was surprised to learn, however, that there were numerous no-shows from among residents who originally qualified for the shot.

“This leads me to believe they received their shot from another source. Maybe they were able to get it from another clinic, or from their own doctor who finally received a supply,” she ventured. “Now we’ve got about 130 doses left, so we’re looking for those folks who thought they would sacrifice their shot for someone who needed it more. Those who needed it, got it.”

Effective immediately, any person who is qualified for a flu shot and cannot get a shot from their doctor should contact the Health District at 270-4291.

“Their name, age, and any medical condition will be recorded,” she said. “And as soon as the Health District gets a handle on how many people still need shots, an additional clinic will be scheduled.”

Those people who have registered will be called back and informed of when and where to get their shot.

“It’s important for people to remember that these remaining shots are for Newtown residents only, and that anyone still needing the vaccine must be registered in advance of a final clinic,” she said. “If the person is not over 65 years of age, a doctor’s note documenting their medical condition will be required to receive a shot.”