Published: October 30, 2009 11:14 pm      

‘Miscommunication’ led to seizure of H1N1 vaccine

Walgreens official says matter was cleared up more than a week ago

GOSHEN, Ind — Doses of H1N1 vaccines were confiscated from a Goshen pharmacy Wednesday.

The vaccine was reportedly being given to “non-priority” groups at the Walgreens at 4430 Elkhart Road, near the intersection of U.S. 33 and C.R. 15. State Department of Health personnel confiscated the doses, which were redistributed to other Elkhart County health service providers.

Walgreens spokesman Michael Polzin said the Elkhart Road pharmacy was the only one affected.

“What happened was, we had some miscommunication between the county officials and our staff,” Polzin said Friday afternoon. “And that was cleared up over a week ago. For the past week, we had been providing the vaccine only to the priority groups.”

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that the following groups receive the H1N1 vaccine: pregnant women; household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age; healthcare and emergency medical services personnel; all people from 6 months through 24 years of age; people aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

“The H1N1 (vaccine) is in limited supply at this point” and the CDC wants it used for the priority groups, said Daniel Nafziger, Elkhart County health officer and an infectious disease consultant at Goshen Health System.

“Providers,” he said, “are expected to honor those priority groups.”

Nafziger said he feels the county health department has a good relationship with Walgreens.

“They’re apologetic about what happened,” Nafziger said. “We’re looking forward to working with them, going forward.”

Polzin seemed to agree.

“We really want to work with the state and county to distribute (the vaccine),” Polzin said, “because our stores are very accessible and we have the staff to do it.”