Ballard families line up for H1N1 vaccine

Geeky Swedes Ballard

A very long line stretched around the Ballard Pediatric facility this morning as families with children in the clinic waited for a limited supply of H1N1 vaccine.

How long of a line? It stretched from the clinic down 77th St…

…then around the corner down Mary Ave. nearly to 75th St.

The clinic opened at 9 a.m., and folks at the front of the line say they were waiting since 5:30 a.m., sitting in folding chairs and clutching cups of coffee in the chilly weather. Ballard Pediatrics’ drop-in clinic was for patients only and kids 6 months to 35 months. Meanwhile, King County is making the H1N1 vaccine available for priority cases at a handful of pharmacies, while supplies last, including Bob Johnson’s Pharmacy at 1407 NW 85th St. See the full list with the criteria here. (Thanks Ryan for the tip!)

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

40 thoughts to “Ballard families line up for H1N1 vaccine”

  1. We got there at seven and the line had just started its first turn at the sidewalk next to the clinic. Thankfully, it never rained :)

    The biggest of thank you's to the staff at Ballard Pediatrics for working on a Sunday to get these shots to all of our kids.

  4. Husband got in line at 8:15 and we were home by 10:30. Thanks to Ballard Pediatrics and to all the neighbors for being so understanding about hundreds of toddlers surrounding their homes and at times walking on their lawns.

  5. This might stir things up but here it is:

    In a review of more than 51 studies involving more than

    294,000 children it was found there was “no evidence that injecting

    children 6-24 months of age with a flu shot was any more effective than

    placebo. In children over 2 yrs, it was only effective 33% of the time in

    preventing the flu. Reference: Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy

    children.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (seasonal flu shots not H1N1)

    http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/

  6. Ballardog – I'm glad someone else isn't buying into all the hype

    Great article about the flu vaccine and its alleged effectiveness:

    http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200911/brownlee-…

    A few very telling excerpts:

    In 2004, there were 40% fewer vaccines given out because of a shortage – there was no increase in flu-related deaths.

    In 1968 and 1977, the vaccine that was developed was for the wrong strain, meaning that, in effect, nobody was vaccinated that year – no increases in flu-related deaths.

    Most alarming is the fact that in 1989, only 15% of those 65 and older were vaccinated against the flu…20 years later, over 65% are. However, during that time frame, the death rate amongst those 65 and older during flu season, has actually increased.

    The fact is, no controlled studies have been done to determine the effectiveness of the flu vaccine, as would be typical, if not required, for any other kind of medication.

    To quote the great prophets Flavor Flav and Chuck D: “Don't believe the hype!” (or Big Pharma)

  7. Does anybody remember good old hurricane Katrina? Who got bleep about that? I firmly feel somebody big in DC with the initials BHO didn't want a “Katrina” on his shift. No black helicopters. No mongering. I'm just saying………

  9. This is odd…
    I took my 4yr old in to BP for an eye issue about 3 weeks ago, and they casually asked me if I wanted to give him a swine flu shot. We have a month old baby in the house, so I said yes. Done deal.

    And now they have a line around the block? I guess they must have had some earlier, then ran out.

  10. We were among those who waited a couple of hours on a cold (but not rainy) Sunday morning. A couple thoughts. I was amazed that a crowd of children under 3 and there parents waited calmly and without too many tantrums. When you think about it, 2 hours in line in the cold is a long time for a grown up – but the kids were amazing! The second thing to note was the very professional manner in which a dedicated staff managed the operation. All hands on deck and they responded. Thanks to Ballard Pediatric for managing this process so smoothly. And, to the neighbors on Mary Ave, thanks for letting our kids run in your yards, play with your trucks, and look at your pumpkins.

  12. I know, let's get hundreds of people to join us in a relatively small, cold, and potentially rainy area, and let's all wait together for hours. In the end, we'll all be super safe from swine flu!

  13. Hey, parents, please…get your children to get the H1N1 vaccine…that way, when your children get Autism and are not fit to do anything but janitorial work, I'll have someone to clean the shit out of my toilets for me.

  15. Wow. Besides the fact that scientific studies show zero link between vaccines and autism (unlike Jenny McCarthy studies … I don't know, I'll listen to the scientists myself) that was a really STUPID insult to the three people in my life with autism. They are wonderful people – one of them was a high-up aerospace engineer in his day. You suck.

  18. I was thinking the same thing! I'd bet odds were greater of your child catching pneumonia from waiting in line than catching the H1N1. It's an absolute fact that your child is more likely to die from driving in a car than from the flu.

  19. Well it is the President's job to respond to such calamities. GW was asleep at the switch while New Orleans drowned – a truly astounding display of incompetence. Of course the only person more incompetent than GW during Katrina was the mayor of New Orleans!

  21. Well golfing is a totally different story! Can't expect the leader of the free world to interrupt something important like golf to deal with something as trivial as a major city being destroyed. Besides, it's been over 4 years and I'm sure by now the richest nation on the planet has restored New Orleans back to how it was, right? Just like how we averted disaster by finding all those WMDs in Iraq? Thank goodness for GW!

  23. Actually GWB set the record for most vacation time taken by a President. Pretty amazing considering we had 2 wars and a recession!

  27. I'm pretty sure that the only reason that there is ANY H1N1 vaccines is because the govt mandated that private drug companies produce it. And I'm pretty sure that its the privately-run, for-profit companies that are failing to deliver the quantities needed that are causing shortages and lines like this. And this line was created by the decision of the privately-run clinic to do a “drop-in” (or “line-up) rather than schedule appts.

    I'm no socialist, but I think your statement is pretty ignorant. Full disclousre – my child sees Dr. Telzrow at Ballard Pediatrics who is an amazing pediatrician.

  28. The ignorance is yours my friend. Drug companies, producing to government specifications, in one syringe, doses, delayed and made more problematic the delivery. The short supply is all on the backs of our current leadership and their attempt at total control. If you like standing in lines, and taking what the government thinks you should have, you will love government run Healthcare. Take it from someone that lived it for 25 years in another country. If this were the Bush administration in charge you would be foaming at the mouth at what is now taking place. I'm sure your current religion (our God like leader) prohibits you from casting any blame in that direction. Lastly I'll say this. If drug companies were really in charge of this I would go out right now and buy a dose. That is what profit potential does for supply. Since I can't your argument is moot.

    Have a nice day.

  29. If the drug companies that produced the vaccine were government owned and operated there would most likely be NO vaccine available whatsoever! The government is ALWAYS slower to respond and ALWAYS inferior to private enterprise. That's just the way it is and has been throughout history.

    Shortages and lines for basic goods and services has always been the poster child for socialism or government run institutions. It's a fact throughout history and why capitalism is king.

  31. Can someone please explain to me what purpose the phrase “I'm just saying…….” or “just sayin” serves? I usually would not ask a question like this, but this appears to be a lexical trend, and I am curious. To me, it appears to be completely useless filler, similar to the misuse of the word “like”.

    Thanks.

  32. But surely you mean the Corporate Welfare State of Capitalism!

    And so good to know that the world is so black and white, cut and dry and you know all these FACTS.

  34. Nope. Don't mean the corporatism that is pervasive these days. That's part of the reason things are so screwed up!

    Thanks for pointing out the difference between Corporatism and Capitalism.

  35. In fact, the only initial doses available were inhaleable ones, meaning that a lot of the most susciptible people (babies) couldn't even take it. You're absoutely right about one thing though – if the drug companies could charge $250 for a shot, there would be enough supply. That's how messed up our system is. The current proposed health care bill does not socialize or let the government “run” healthcare. Hopefully not very many people are listening to your propoganda. I want to live in a country where everyone can get a flu shot if they want one. Your statement above means that you want to live in one where those who can afford one can get one. I think your country sucks.

  36. Not that you get pneumonia from being cold, but hence most of us with the luxury of two parent families leaving one parent at home with the kids until the line started moving.

    Your other argument, while not specious, is logically flawed. Your previous posts indicate you are smart enough to understand why.

  37. There's no money in producing vaccines. They don't require years of research and they have to be priced low enough for everyone to afford.

    In a truly capitalist society, no drug company would bother to produce any vaccines. They would make more money if we all got sick and needed ongoing treatment and drugs.

    A couple of generations ago, the government actually worked very successfully with private enterprise to serve its citizens. When we needed thousands of planes and tanks, the private sector dropped what they were doing and got it done (and go figures, our economy benefited). Today, the private sector has to have their hands forced to do anything that benefits society, unless it has as much profit behind it as a different activity. And I think we've lost our way.

  38. Ballard Pediatrics rocked the house on Sunday. Thank you for an amazingly well run drop in clinic. Such fantastic care we receive there!

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