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Negotiations stall free flu vaccine

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A contract negotiation between Mason General Hospital and Mason County has stalled plans to cover H1N1 swine flu vaccines for poor children.

Last week the Board of Mason County Commissioners approved a contract promising to pay a private company to administer H1N1 vaccines to adults and children age 12 and older who are uninsured and cannot afford the fee. Professional Health Care, LLC does not vaccinate children younger than 12, said Vicki Kirkpatrick, Mason County Public Health director.

Kirkpatrick said the second contract, with Mason General, was held up over a liability issue and, until signed, Mason General's clinics administering H1N1 vaccine to children could turn away those without insurance and who cannot pay the $15 administrative fee.

It's illegal to charge for the vaccine itself.

Tuesday Lydia Buchheit, Mason County Community and Family Health manager, said hospital and county lawyers were working out the issue.

"Liability is not the concern," said Robert Johnson, Mason General's attorney.

Mason County's contract includes a requirement that the hospital broaden its insurance coverage to include the county and it's not necessary because we are a public hospital district, Johnson said.

The questioned contract was returned to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Monty Cobb on October 15, Johnson said.

Kirkpatrick said the contract cannot be changed without Cobb's approval.

Cobb did not return a call this week seeking comment. Vaccine stocks are shipped to Mason County on a weekly basis by the state. Mason County Public Health Officer Dr. Diana Yu said the county's weekly ration of H1N1 vaccine could be as little as 30 doses.

Since September 19, 20 people in Mason County have been hospitalized with H1N1, and one death is suspected.

Buchheit said 11 of the 20 hospitalized have been admitted since the end of September. Only one was a child, she said.

Statewide, 331 people have been hospitalized and 12 have died from H1N1.

As of Tuesday, 2,700 doses of H1N1 vaccinations have been doled out to Mason County, with more expected next week. Statewide, as of October 21, 227,000 doses have been distributed, according to the center for Disease Controll. Locall dis-trobution is done according to population.

So far, the health department has allowed 11 local health care providers to dispense both the nasal and injected forms of the vaccine. According to Buchheit, the county is still on the phase-one priority list for vaccine -- pregnant women, children and health care providers.

"We don't have enough to serve all the kids anyway," Kirkpatrick said.

Previously, Yu said that traditionally flu outbreaks surface in a community among fifth-and sixth-graders first.

Recent absences in the Shelton school system during any given week range between 10 and 25 percent, according to Buchheit. Mostly in the elementary schools, she said.

Most of the flu cases being treated and reported are H1N1 swine flu, Yu said.

The hospital and other providers have promised to not turn people away, Kirkpatrick said.

Some adults and children have been turned away from providers in Mason County, but Kirkpatrick could not say how many people, their age or why they specifically were turned away.

Mason County will make sure that everyone who needs a vaccination or wants a vaccination will get one eventually, Kirkpatrick said. The federal government requires that the county will be responsible for those who cannot pay, she said.

H1N1 ON THE RISE IN MASON COUNTY

Since Sept. 19 19 adults hospitalized 1 child hospitalized 1 suspected death 2,700 vaccinations delivered

Unknown number infected



Copyright 2009 Shelton-Mason County Journal, Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Shelton-Mason County Journal Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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