October 16, 2009

We talked to several doctors' offices Friday who say they're slated to get, or already have a limited number of swine flu vaccinations. As a result, they're urging parents with children in school districts where the swine flu vaccination is being offered to get them vaccinated that way.

On Monday, Yancey, Broadus, Scottsville, and Woodbrook Elementary schools will offer swine flu vaccinations to their students. Out of the 972 students at all four schools, 584 have signed up to be vaccinated. That's roughly 61 percent.

At Family Medicine of Albemarle, they say out of their 8,000 patients, about 4,000 are on the high priority list. But they're only slated to have 700 vaccines within the next month.

That's why they, along with other practices, are hoping parents can free up some of those vaccines by having their kids get the vaccination through their school system if it's offered.

"If they can't get it at their primary care physician, look for other opportunities. There are lots of them because doctors aren't going to have enough vaccines to vaccinate all of their patients," said clinical director Kathy Ramsey.

"There are opportunities to receive the vaccine through the health department, and there may be other places where patients work," said Dr. Ray Marotta of Family Medicine of Albemarle.

Albemarle County will give vaccines to Baker Butler, Murray, and Red Hill elementary students on Tuesday.