Missouri gets 20,000 doses of swine flu vaccine this week

Intro:	Missouri will get its first doses of swine flu vaccine this week, but the state is taking a hands-off approach. Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: With 20,000 doses of swine flu vaccine on the way to Missouri, state Health Department spokesperson Kit Wagar says it's up to local agencies to figure out how to distribute them.

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Description: We have a lot of very small rural counties. We have one county with 1 million people and another county with 700,000 people in it. They're going to do things differently. We think the local health departments know best how to efficiently get this out to the public."

Several county officials say the first vaccines will go to children and health care workers.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

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Intro:	The state Health Department's spokesperson blasted doctors who didn't know the procedure for getting and distributing swine flu vaccines. Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: Some doctors say they've never been told how they'll get doses of the swine flu vaccine or who to give them to.

State Health Department spokesperson Kit Wagar blamed the doctors, not his agency.

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Description: "We have sent numerous health updates, we have got this all over our Web site. If they don't know, they haven't been trying." (LAUGHTER)

Wagar says about 20,000 doses will arrive in Missouri this week, with more than 300,000 additional doses coming in the two weeks after that.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

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Intro:	The state Health Department's spokesperson says you don't have to be a doctor to oversee a major swine flu vaccine program. Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: State Health Department spokesperson Kit Wagar says department director Margaret Donnelly is in charge of managing how Missourians will get their swine flu vaccines.

Donnelly isn't a doctor.

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Description: KEITH: "Because Margaret Donnelly is not a doctor, who is in charge from that aspect?" WAGAR: "You're saying a doctor has to... would you really want a doctor to oversee shipment of vaccines?"

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Description: KEITH: "Because Margaret Donnelly is not a doctor, who is in charge from that aspect?"

WAGAR: "You're saying a doctor has to... would you really want a doctor to oversee shipment of vaccines?"

Apparently, lawyers are better. Donnelly is a former attorney and a political appointee of Gov. Jay Nixon.

But Wagar says Donnelly's in charge.

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Description: "Is this a mystery? I don't mean to be difficult, but I'm completely baffled by your question."

Wagar says no position has been created to oversee swine flu vaccines.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

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Intro:	Despite budget cutbacks, the state Health Department says it won't be affected in getting swine flu vaccines to you. Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: With budget cuts across Missouri's state government, the Health Department has also felt the hit.

But spokesperson Kit Wagar says there isn't a shortage of staffers to oversee distribution of swine flu vaccines.

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Description: "We're having... that's not even an issue."

Wagar says the department is focused on getting vaccines to Missourians.

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Description: "This is a very high priority in the department to get this done."

Wagar says one thing that helps is that local health agencies and local health care providers will distribute and administer the swine flu vaccine.

The state is left with overseeing things and ordering new shipments.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

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Intro:	The first doses of swine flu vaccine are coming to Missouri this week, but don't expect to get one right away. Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: The state will receive just 20,000 doses of swine flu vaccine this week.

St. Louis County, home to 1 million people, will get just 5,000 doses.

That means local health agencies will prioritize who gets the vaccines.

Several county officials say children and health care workers will be first in line.

Only a product called FluMist, a nasal spray vaccine, will come this week.

Pregnant women can't use the mist because it carries a live virus harmful to weakened immune systems.

They'll have to wait for vaccines that work like a shot.

Those will come next week, when the state is scheduled to get 70,000 new doses. About 300,000 doses are set to arrive the week after that.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

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