The swine flu, or H1N1, vaccine is a tricky subject among parents, on several levels. First, whether to get it; second, where to get it; and third, how it’s being distributed. As a new mom and journalist, I’ve had experiences in all three of these categories, so here’s my take:

I got vaccinated. I was stuck twice, with the seasonal flu shot and then again with the swine flu shot. I’m in the “high risk” group because I have a child under the age of 6 months. My OB-GYN, Dr. Heidi Freeman, recommended I get both shots, that way Steel would be protected through my breast milk. Steel’s pediatrician, Dr. Renee Bravo, also recommended I get the swine flu shot. Some parents don’t agree and have opted not to get the swine flu vaccination. Their feeling is that it’s just too new, it hasn’t been tested enough and that it was made so quickly that we just don’t know the negative health effects, if any, it will have on our children. I’m not disagreeing with their concerns, but on the recommendations I got from two of my trusted sources, I decided it was safe for Steel and me.

So where did I get “stuck?”  Well, I stood in line at a local pharmacy to get the seasonal flu shot. I just happened to be shopping and noticed the line. So, I figured, why not? I was told to do it anyway, no time like the present, right? Now, the swine flu shot was a little harder to come by. I didn’t realize I could go to Steel’s pediatrician for the vaccine, which is who ended up giving me the vaccination. Dr. Freeman was only giving it to her pregnant patients because of the scarce supply.. and I don’t blame her one bit. And since I don’t have a family doctor, YET (I know, shame on me), I really didn’t know where to turn. I was hoping a clinic would be open to the public in SLO County, but they seemed to be only offered in the schools. That is until recently, when  SLO County Public Health started holding vaccination clinics to the public, by appointment only. People had been lining up in Santa Barbara County for public clinics, but I figured you had to be a SB County resident to be eligible. It just so happened I was in Dr. Bravo’s office doing a story when he told me he’s trying to offer the shot to all his parents of newborns… as they become available. Problem solved. But the problem of  distribution , isn’t.

The problem comes down to supply and demand. The manufacturers can’t make the vaccines fast enough to keep up with demand. There’s also a lag time in getting the vaccine out to the public. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, as of  Thursday December, 3,  8.3 million doses have been allocated to California, nearly 8 million have been ordered and only 7 million have been shipped here. See the problem?

Recently, public health department officials have said the lines are starting to dwindle at local clinics as  the rate of infection has slowed down. BUT they stress, “the prevalence of  H1N1 flu is still at epidemic levels and continues to cause severe illness in some residents. ”

With all that said, to be or not to be, vaccinated: that is the question.