In Britain, No Lines for H1N1 Vaccine

(CBS)  Parents across the U.S. are hunting for flu shots to protect their children and themselves. But it's a frustrating search, with supplies still short and distribution left to a patchwork of state and local authorities.

Across the ocean, England appears to have found a better way, as CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports from London.

Across the United States getting vaccinated against swine flu has meant the frustration of hours waiting on line. Contrast that with the quiet calm of a British doctors office, where it's vaccination by invitation only.

Special Report: H1N1 Virus

"We have to immunize the highest priority groups first," said Dr. Claire Quiggan, a general practitioner.

Everyone at an office MacVicar visited got a phone call from their doctor because they have an underlying medical condition - a pregnant woman, a diabetic man.

Related information:
CDC: Learn More About H1N1
CDC: What To Do If You Get Sick
Flu.gov: Where To Get Your Flu Shots

Jane Theophilus takes medication that depresses her immune system. Why was getting the vaccine important to her?

"It wasn't," she said. "I was told to come!"

The centralization of Britain's National Health Service - known as the NHS - means every at risk person can be identified.

Each NHS medical practice got 500 doses of vaccine, a first wave, to vaccinate the most vulnerable first.

Dr. Steve Field is a British physician and a Harvard professor.

"In the United States … it's about survival of the fittest, survival of those with money over those perhaps who don't have money," he said. "Here, it's much better. I think the system here is equal for people."

There's no panic about supply, because there will be plenty to go around. For years, vaccines used in Europe have included additives that enable a smaller amount of vaccine to make more doses.

"There will be enough vaccine," said Dr. Tarit Mukhopady of University College London. "We have moved from a state of blind panic to one of complacency."

For every one vaccine dose in the U.S. there are four in the UK. Additives are not used in the U.S. because Americans worry about their safety.

After a peak early this summer, Britain has also seen the number of swine flu cases decline. They fell from 84,000 last week to 64,000 this week.

"We would have expected not just to be nudging the season flu level, but to go up," Field said and the current numbers are "good news."

Good news that's leading to a much more relaxed attitude. While some people are still getting very sick, for most it's a pretty mild illness. And after predicting 65,000 deaths in July, Britain's government has revised its worst-case scenario death toll down to just 1,000. That's less than the toll from seasonal flu.

[babooph]

UK needs some insurance lobbyists fast-this makes the US really look bad-lucky the years of brainwashing have fully indoctrinated those in the states with very weak minds...

[ffotoragg]

has anyone had any thoughts about geography?????? after comparing land mass--the whole country of the uk would equal the landmass of new mexico--does anyone understand the difference??? our country is huge!!! and yes, unfortunately, those with money have gotten some of the vaccine first--

[tyjobro66]

As of the date this story ran, flu.gov reports that in the U.S., 35 million doses of the vaccine had been delivered. If Great Britain has four times as many doses at the U.S., they would have 140 million. Since their population is only 67 million, that would indicate they have 70 million doses in excess of their population. How then could we expalin the British Department of Health (www.dh.gov.uk) providing guidance for handling the millions of Brits that have not yet been able to receive the vaccine due to lack of availability. Proper reporting would have said that a dose of H1N1 vaccine in Britain gets used on four times as many people. Nice work CBS.

[jwesel1]

Dr. Steve Field is a British physician and a Harvard professor.

"In the United States ? it's about survival of the fittest, survival of those with money over those perhaps who don't have money," he said. "Here, it's much better. I think the system here is equal for people."
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This is so true.

[krtf]

State all the facts on both sides of the argument and allow the audience to draw their own conclusions. The story is full of baseless opinions and few if any real facts that can be used to understand and draw an informed conclusion. The nightly news use to have real stories written by quality reporters now sadly it has become shadow of its former self.

[chalkmen]

The story about "No Lines.." for H1n1 vaccines in Britain is ridiculous! My doctor's office has the same policy regarding patients being called as the vaccine becomes available, those most at risk first. As for the lines, those are at (usually free!) clinics. Survival of the fittest? I'm paying plenty for my health insurance and work in a middle school, yet the only ones around me who are vaccinated are the kids who have "Mass Health" state welfare coverage, which is fine with me. Just don't say a country where people die waiting for care is superior to us. We've been there and the people there would trade places any time!
sg

[DAust]

My son-in-law is British. He and my daughter have nothing good to say about the NHS. Their children have had to be placed on waiting lists (for drain tubes, unless they have permanent hearing loss; hernia surgery unless it becomes a emergency), etc. The medications given are often those that US pharmacies no longer sell. Why does no one give this view of the NHS. The swine flu vaccine has been watered down, that is why they have so much more available.

[scotsdavie]

England is a component of Great Britain and one of two Kingdoms United. The founder of the NHS was, I believe, a Welshman.

[bann65]

If this was under Bush, the dems would be screaming..........

[bann65]

If this was under Bush, the dems would be screaming..........