Sorry, Zeke. I had to do it.
After two days of writing about my failed efforts to obtain a flu shot for my 6-month-old son, I received a welcome e-mail yesterday morning from Ed Kulesa, press rep for the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Unlike the private doctors I’d called, Wyckoff – a not-for-profit teaching hospital – not only has the vaccines, but dispenses them to kids who aren’t regular patients.
Most important, Kulesa said, the hospital still had 60 doses in stock, and a ready phone number for Post readers to call to make an appointment: (718) 486-4170.
Better make that 59 doses. In just over an hour, I hightailed it to meet Zeke and his nanny at the hospital.
The 59 doses probably won’t last that long but there was more good news yesterday – the Health Department actually seemed to be trying to straighten out the mess over baby vaccines.
As it stands, kids ages 6 to 23 months are considered one of the city’s high-risk flu categories – but they’re not offered free shots by the city’s program, which only covers ages 4 and up.
This wouldn’t be such a big problem if more private doctors had the scarce vaccine. And instead of offering useless leads, yesterday the 311 operators actually admitted they had no place to send us – and to ring back on Monday.
“We’re trying to get vaccines to places where people can reliably call to get their child vaccinated,” said Dr. Jane Zucker, medical director of the city’s Bureau of Immunization.
“What we’re working to do is redistribute vaccine from providers who don’t need it to providers who do. The vaccine is being moved to some clinic sites that will be able to see children. We’re working hard to ensure that people can get answers.”
When we get them, you will, too.
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