Flu shots sought by Kidney Centers

By Marsha King
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The Northwest Kidney Centers made a desperate public plea yesterday for flu vaccine for its kidney-dialysis patients.

"We're hoping for untapped resources," Connie Anderson, director of clinical services, said at a press briefing. "It would be devastating for our patients to get the flu."

The Kidney Centers normally provide 1,200 doses to patients. But this year they came up empty-handed because their supplier's factory was shut down due to contamination.

The centers have received 500 doses from Swedish Medical Center, thanks to a vaccine-redistribution program run by Public Health — Seattle & King County. Centers officials hope the public plea will turn up more vaccine for redistribution.

The nonprofit Northwest Kidney Centers operate 11 community dialysis centers in King County and one in Port Angeles. The organization also provides dialysis in homes and hospitals.

The vaccine manufacturer that was shut down had been expected to provide nearly half of the U.S. supply.

Health officials have said the remaining shots, about 61 million doses, should go to people at high risk for complications from the flu.

Kidney patients are among those at high risk. Others include children 6 to 23 months old, people with chronic illnesses and individuals age 65 and older.

Kidney patients aren't more deserving of the vaccine than others on the government's high-risk list, said Ingrid Goodwin, Kidney Centers spokeswoman.

But kidney patients may not be as high profile as some other groups.
 
"We just have to toot our own horn," Goodwin said.

Getting the word out should highlight the need and help all people on the high-risk list, she said.

Public Health — Seattle & King County has redirected about 4,300 doses so far as part of an ongoing inventory of the vaccine supply among nursing homes and other health-care providers, said spokesman Matias Valenzuela. The redistribution program is voluntary.

"If somebody has a surplus, we tell them where there's a need and it's up to them," Valenzuela said.

Every group on the high-risk list is equally worthy, he said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines for how to interpret the high-risk categories, including explaining which conditions — such as hypertension and arthritis — do not by themselves qualify a person as priority for vaccination.

Some health departments around the country are holding lotteries for their scarce flu shots. But Valenzuela said the redistribution method — based on an inventory of need — is working well.

Once the vaccine shortage was announced, the Kidney Centers immediately notified patients and asked their doctors to provide shots if possible.

The organization also contacted — with no results — all the major hospitals, clinics and several nursing homes, looking for vaccine.

Now the Kidney Centers hope private companies that may hold extra vaccine will notify Public Health, which can distribute it to the most needy, including kidney patients.

Marsha King: 206-464-2232 or mking@seattletimes.com