Swine flu shots scarce, Seymour man worried Save Email Print
Posted: 6:00 PM Nov 3, 2009
Last Updated: 6:56 PM Nov 3, 2009
Reporter: Amber Miller
Email Address: amber.miller@wvlt-tv.com

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SEYMOUR, Tenn. (WVLT) -- As we wait for supply to catch up with the demand for the H1N1 swine flu vaccine, a lot of people are nervous they're not protected.

"I sit here most of the time. I rarely go out in public," Jim Speiser told Volunteer TV.

"Nervous is a mild word," he continued. "I'm afraid, to tell you the truth."

At 53 years old, Speiser isn't in the target group for the H1N1 vaccine, but he does have an underlying health condition: lung disease.

When he called to schedule an appointment for a shot at the Sevier County Health Department, however, he says he was turned away.

"Children under a certain age, health care workers, and people who deal with children," Speiser repeated. "And I said, 'What about people, like in my situation, with COPD? It is a respiratory infection'."

"We're following the CDC recommendations on our priority listings right now because the supply is coming in slower than what we anticipated," Paula Campbell the Assistant Director of the East Tennessee Regional Health Office said.

The regional health office says it's true-- Not everyone can get the vaccine right now.

But Speiser is an exception because of his health, and he does qualify.

"As things have unfolded, they change day-to-day; sometimes hour-by-hour, so we're trying to be flexible in how we plan and how we prepare," Speiser said.

"There's a high demand for the vaccine, and we are doing our level best to get the vaccine out to the public as soon as we receive it," Campbell explained.

Jim Speiser says he's paranoid as he practices his patience.

"If I catch it, I don't know what would happen. I even had to re-do my living will because I understand they put people into chemically induced comas to get through it," Speiser said.

By Tuesday afternoon, Speiser had an appointment to get his shot.

Campbell says he must have called when they were out of the vaccine.

But if you are looking for a clinic that has H1N1 vaccines available now, you can look at the flu shot locator here.

You can go to any clinic-- you don't have to be a resident of the same county.

It tells you if they have the spray, the vaccine, or both and if you need an appointment.

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