| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE: At polyclinics and major clinic chains, the vaccinations for the Influenza A virus (H1N1) are in full swing. But walk into a Pandemic Preparedness Clinic (PPC) run by a sole proprietor, and you may find that the doctor does not have the vaccine.
A check with several PPCs on Wednesday revealed that some doctors – especially those who are not part of a healthcare chain – are not offering the H1N1 vaccinations yet.
Instead, they are awaiting supplies – from the Health Ministry – that come in single doses. The 250,000 doses that have reached Singapore so far are in packs of 10, with a shelf life of 24 hours once opened.
Nonetheless, six days after H1N1 vaccinations began, demand has marginally outstripped supply, with 261,450 doses needed as of Wednesday. But the crunch should ease this weekend, when an additional 106,400 doses in single packs will arrive.
Doctors who gave a pass on the initial stock said it was too much of a logistical hassle to arrange for batches of 10 patients to come in for jabs each day.
"Once you open it, you have to get rid of it within 24 hours, so you need to have 10 patients guaranteed on that day," said a general practitioner at Orchard Road.
Another general practitioner, Dr Grace Kwan of Bishan Grace Clinic, said: "Imagine if you had three families of four who wanted the vaccine. If you opened two packs, what do you do with the remaining eight doses?"
Some of her patients were upset, but Dr Kwan explained: "We just don't have the manpower to coordinate, to make sure that 10 people come on the same day, within the same time frame".
As of Wednesday, 83 people were on her register for the vaccines due to arrive sometime next week. Those who wanted the vaccines urgently were referred to polyclinics.
A second H1N1 wave has started in some countries, including France and Turkey, but Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan had recently advised the Singapore public that there was no need to rush for a jab.
He had also flagged the possibility of "some portion of the vaccines ... (being) taken up by foreigners", against the backdrop of a shortage of H1N1 vaccines in some countries, including the United States, due to production delays.
But polyclinics and major clinic chains are reporting few foreign clients so far.
Healthway Medical, with 56 clinics including the Silver Cross Family Clinics, reported about 100 foreign patients out of the "8,000 to 10,000" doses given so far. But it is unclear how many are expatriates and how many are medical tourists, said a spokesperson.
At ParkwayHealth, some foreign patients have asked for flu vaccinations when they visit for health screenings or specific treatments, but demand is still being monitored. More foreign patients could come with the year-end travel season approaching, a spokesperson said.
SingHealth and National Healthcare Group reported a total of 72 foreigners receiving jabs so far. All healthcare providers said locals and foreigners are charged the same price for vaccines.
- TODAY/so
|
