WNY clinics have postponed most of their seasonal flu shots, but a few are starting to come back on the schedule. Meanwhile, hand sanitizer sales soar, and blood banks report fewer donors because of sick people, and flu fears.
Buffalo's Early News and WBEN.com looked at the situation Thursday morning and has the following resources.
SEASONAL FLU SHOTS FOR CHILDREN Buffalo City Schools hosts clinics this weekend:
Southside Elementary School, 430 Southside Parkway, Buffalo, Starting 11/14/09 - Sat 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Olmstead School at Kensington, 319 Suffolk St., Buffalo, NY
Starting 11/14/09 - Sat 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Pharmacy and Clinic Based Distribution:
The Catholic Health System has postponed all it's flu shot clinics until Nov. 17.
The Visiting Nurses Assoc. has postponed most clinics indefinitely but will hold a SEASONAL FLU CLINIC, Saturday, Saturday 11/14 - 9:30am-1:00pm or until vaccine runs out, which ever comes first at the Mayville United Methodist Church, 81 S. Erie Street, Mayville. Other clinics are expected but not yet scheduled.
Many pharmacy based clinics are also postponed. Schedules and availability varies from store to store. For the latest, select one you are comfortable with or close to, by clicking on the following links.
Slowly, the H1N1 vaccine is arriving in WNY, prioritized so the young, the pregnant, and people with other risk factors receive shots first. The supply of seasonal flu shots is also increasing, but demand is high because of H1N1 fears.
Are Some People Cutting Ahead In Line?
Outrage over vaccine for Afghan detainees Canadian military officials in Afghanistan said detainees are being offered swine flu vaccinations - a decision the federal health minister on Tuesday denounced as "outrageous" at a time there is a shortage of the vaccine in Canada.
Pentagon: 300 doses of H1N1 vaccine at Guantanamo A small shipment of swine flu vaccine has arrived at the Guantanamo Bay military prison. It's unlikely any of the terror detainees held there will get any of the sought-after vaccine now.
In Europe, most swine flu shots by invitation only
In Britain, there are no long lines of people seeking swine flu vaccine. And there are no cries of injustice that the vaccine is going to wealthy corporations or healthy people who don't really need it.
Goldman Sachs, Citigroup got swine flu vaccine Some of New York's biggest companies, including Wall Street giants Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, received doses of swine flu vaccine for at-risk employees, drawing criticism that the hard-to-find vaccine is going first to the privileged.
Apology for Flames getting flu shots before public An official for Alberta Health Services has apologized for giving the Calgary Flames swine flu shots while thousands of people waited in line for the vaccine last week
Sanitizer Sales Soar
In the wake of H1N1, items like hand sanitizers have become very popular no matter where you are. One pharmacy says sales have dramatically increased.
"We've seen a doubling of hand sanitizers and other related products used to help prevent the spread of H1N1 like anti-bacterial wipes," says Brad Arthur of Black Rock Pharmacy. He says suppliers have plenty on hand so there won't be any bare shelves anytime soon.
Over at the Buffalo Athletic Club, Beth Mahoney says hand sanitizers will shortly be installed on every floor of every facility. But plenty has been done to prevent the spread of viruses.
"We have plenty of disinfectant with plenty of clean towels for our members to use to wipe down equipment," says Mahoney. She notes the BAC has people cleaning throughout the day in all areas to keep the risk of spreading H1N1 low
Blood Banks Suffer
On top of an annual seasonal slump, sickness and flu fears are taking a toll on the nation's blood banks. '
Sick people aren't allowed to donate, and flu fears are also keeping people away. While you are allowed to donate after getting a flu vaccine, too many people are disqualifying themselves because of related concerns.
In the region that includes Buffalo and WNY, The American Red Cross has seen an approximately 10 percent drop, according to spokesperson Marianne Schreyer.
"We have heard anecdotally that not only when people call to cancel their appointments are they ill but sometimes people will say things like 'Oh I can't donate, I was just vaccinated with the flu." Schreyer says.
Some clinics- although none locally- have discarded blood after donors reported flu like symptoms days later. Federal officials are testing those donations, but say that generally only very strong viruses can be transferred that way.
Nationwide, the umbrella agency America's Blood Banks, report as much as a 24 percent drop off at some collection sites, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Toll Free: 800.616.WBEN
E-Mail Story
Print Story
WNY clinics have postponed most of their seasonal flu shots, but a few are starting to come back on the schedule. Meanwhile, 
