City seeks public’s patience in flu clinic delays
Boston public health officials asked for patience yesterday as delays in the delivery of swine flu vaccine have pushed clinics for the general population into late November.
The state has already distributed 270,500 doses of vaccine against swine flu, also known as H1N1. Boston’s allotment of 27,000 doses has gone to health care providers in hospitals, community health centers, and primary care offices to inoculate high-risk patients, including pregnant women and children, and health care workers.
Shipments are running three weeks behind because of production backups.
“We do not anticipate having large [H1N1] public clinics until later in November,’’ Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, said at a press conference held down the hall from a well-attended seasonal flu clinic. “We are urging people who live in Boston who are at very high risk . . . to contact their health care providers to find out when they will be able to receive vaccine.’’
John Auerbach, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said federal officials have assured him that sufficient doses will eventually arrive for all who request it. An additional 900,000 doses are anticipated by the end of November, still short of previous projections.
“It will be coming a lot slower than we would like it to, but it is coming,’’ he said.
In Boston, both swine and seasonal flu activity is low, according to estimates of flulike illnesses garnered from a mix of confirmed cases, school absenteeism, and visits to college health services and hospital emergency rooms.
“Right now, time is on our side,’’ Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. “How long that will remain the case is uncertain. Even though there is very little flulike illness in Boston now, we cannot afford to let our guard down.’’
Once high-risk patients have been vaccinated, clinics for other people will be held at the city’s 27 community health centers, Ferrer said.
Auerbach said swine flu’s emergence in the spring has taught useful lessons: People should cover their mouth when coughing, wash their hands, and stay home from work or school if sick.
Elizabeth Cooney can be reached at lizcooney@gmail.com. 
