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DPH outlines phased H1N1 vaccine plan; city to keep public-clinic safety net
Summary
Department of Public Health told the San Francisco Disaster Council the city received 7,000 nasal H1N1 doses for children, expects an initial shipment of about 100,000 doses with weekly follow-ups, and plans to allocate roughly two-thirds of vaccine to private providers while reserving public-clinic 'overflow' doses and 311 communications for high-risk residents.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health told the Disaster Council on Oct. 9 that the city has begun receiving H1N1 vaccine and is planning a phased rollout that prioritizes high‑risk groups while preserving a public‑clinic safety net.
Doctor Verniak of the Department of Public Health said the first arrival to the city was 7,000 doses of the live attenuated (nasal) influenza vaccine, and that those limited doses were directed to pediatricians because the product is suitable only for healthy people aged 3 to 50. "That vaccine unfortunately came in a very small amount, only 7,000 doses," Verniak said, and the Department distributed those doses to pediatric offices to begin vaccinations immediately.
Verniak said the city is expecting a larger "first big shipment" of about 100,000 doses, followed by weekly deliveries of roughly 20,000–40,000 doses, though the timing was uncertain. "We still don't know" the exact arrival date, Verniak said; earlier projections shifted from mid-October to later dates. He said most people over age 10 will need a single dose, easing logistics compared with earlier expectations that two doses would be required.
Because the schedule for larger shipments changed, DPH and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) adjusted plans originally made for large mass‑vaccination clinics. Verniak said the city shifted toward distributing about 65–70% of its vaccine to private providers — primarily pediatricians and obstetricians — with hospitals receiving sizable allocations to protect healthcare workers and vulnerable inpatients. "The Department of Public Health is going to take 25,000 doses of that vaccine and distribute it through our public health clinics," Verniak added, describing those clinics as an "overflow" safety net for high‑risk individuals whose providers decline to give the vaccine.
On access and cost, Verniak said the federal government paid for the vaccine itself, so the vaccine will be free at DPH clinics; private physicians may charge a limited administrative fee for giving the shot. "The vaccine itself is free," Verniak told the council, while noting that physicians' offices "do have the option of charging an administrative fee, not for the vaccine, not for the cost of vaccine but for administering the vaccine." He said the state would issue guidelines limiting such fees.
Council members and public commenters pressed DPH on equity. Dr. Michael Coburn asked whether moving most doses through private offices would disadvantage lower‑income residents. Verniak responded that the department allocated an initial 25,000 doses to public clinics and can reallocate doses among sites as needed; information about clinic locations and availability will be posted to 311 and the DPH flu web pages (sfcdcp.org).
Next steps and public guidance: DPH will update the public through DEM channels and the DPH flu website as shipments and eligibility change. Officials said priority groups for initial doses are pregnant women, children and healthcare workers, followed by people with chronic illnesses and then the general public as supply increases.
