North Charleston urgent care facility swamped after News 2 story

Medcare Express, an urgent care facility in North Charleston ran out of the H1N1 vaccine shot and nasal mist Thursday afternoon after announcing Wednesday they had an abundance of doses.

Patients crowded the waiting room area at Medcare Express on Dorchester Road after News 2 aired the story Wednesday evening that the facility is offering the vaccines on a first come, first served basis. They did not filter out patients to see if they fit into specific high-risk priority groups, a practice conducted by DHEC at their public clinics.

The CDC recommends that a few “risk groups” receive the H1N1 vaccines first. Those in the risk group are: pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants more than 6 months old (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers), health-care and emergency medical services personnel, persons aged 6months—24 years, and persons aged 25—64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

Medcare Express is giving the shots even to those not in the risk group and says they don’t believe there was a requirement saying they must filter out people who want vaccinations. Medcare says they encourage those at highest risk to come but they were not turning anyone away up to this point.

DHEC spokesperson Jim Beasley says all 650 private care facilities in South Carolina who received vaccine through their department should follow the CDC guidelines for risk groups. He was not aware of any places which did not follow the guidelines and said there was no specific penalty.

Dr. Radwan Hallaba at Medcare says he was aware the people in risk groups should go first and that is what they tried to do. He says as people showed up they did not reject them.

To find a private care facility that is on the DHEC distribution list you can call their toll free hotline at 1 800 277 4687. You can also visit the website www2.thecarolinascenter.org/fcf

POSTED NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Medcare Express says they are stocked and ready to disperse H1N1 vaccinations to the public despite some fears there is a shortage.

Early predictions were that 160 million doses would be available nationwide by the beginning of November. Estimates now are about 32 million. That has some clinics turning away people after waiting for hours to get vaccinated.

Far from long lines, Medcare Express is only getting about 30 patients a day coming in for vaccinations.

Unlike DHEC clinics there is no appointment necessary and you do not have to be part of any priority group to get the vaccine. Medcare on 8720 Dorchester Rd in North Charleston is open 9am to 9pm.