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Nov 3, 2009 6:03 pm US/Central
FB Clinic Asked To Stop Indiscrimnate H1N1 Shots
FARMERS BRANCH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The investigation isn't complete, but the state health department says a North Texas company misrepresented itself and it has been asked to change the way it's giving out the H1N1 vaccine.
Flu Shots of America is advertising that it has the H1N1 vaccine and in the last week alone has given the shot or mist to thousands of people.
State health officials say they have asked the clinic to limit giving the vaccine to high-risk groups, such as children and pregnant women, but a spokesperson for the company says they've received no such request.
The clinic is vaccinating anyone who will pay for it and says it's not their job to police clients.
The Carroll-Gorman family drove to the Farmers Branch clinic from Fort Worth. In all, 13 men, women and children came for H1N1 vaccines. "Like I said, I am in a high-risk [group] and my doctor doesn't have it," explained mother Susan Gorman. "So, I found where it [the vaccine] was available and we went there to get it."
Jeff Vitt owns Flu Shots of America and its sister company, Star Medical Group. "It looks like the target groups are the ones that are participating -- from what I'm seeing," he said.
But CBS 11 found some of people in line who admitted they don't fall into one of the high risk groups. "No I do not," said father Thomas Carroll. "That's why I don't know if I'm going to get one or not, to be honest with you."
Carrie Williams, a spokesperson for the Department of State Health Services, says Star Medical Group registered as a private practice provider and requested 820,000 doses. But Williams says the company is actually operating as a community vaccination clinic and those businesses haven't been allotted any H1N1 vaccine yet. "Given that," says Williams "they shouldn't have received vaccine."
Star Medical Group operates out of the same building as Flu Shots of America and both businesses are owned by Vitt.
According to Williams, Flu Shots of America is advertising that it has the vaccine, but it was Star Medical Group that registered with the state to receive it. So far, the company has received says more than 11,000 doses, which is more than Dallas County Health and Human Services has received.
Williams says this week the state is widening the high-risk group category to include vaccinations for caregivers who have close contact with infants six-months-old and younger.
Susan Gorman said she's concerned for her health and the health of her asthmatic 15-year-old son. "The concern about the flu is that my child will die, that's my concern about it."
A spokesman for the clinic says they will take the advice of their in-house medical director and continue public vaccinations.
State officials say they have no plans to confiscate any of the vaccine in Star Medical Group's possession. But the state's investigation is ongoing and Williams says the company won't receive any more vaccine until the inquiry is complete.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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