I think the real lesson here is that every state and county are handling this differently and depending on where you live and how prepared your local government and health department are makes big difference. The key ultimately lies in communication.
Where I live, in Fairfax County, they have been doing an AMAZING job. They are even on Facebook and provide updates constantly about availability, how long lines are and links to more info:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/flu/
Ultimately if you are a woman of childbearing age they are going to give it to you since there's a possibility that you
could be pregnant. They don;t ask for proof of pregnancy. Nor will they.
Most clinics are
not asking for verification of need or a note from your doctor (they really don't have time for that). But they will ask you questions and I'm sure people are not always truthful about their status.
Ultimately if you are intent on getting a shot, no matter what your status, there is nothing really preventing you from doing so. You just may have to lie.
I'm NOT advocating that you do that but if you're THAT concerned about your health status just check the box that says you have asthma or say you're pregnant (if you're a woman) and they are going to give you the shot.
AGAIN-- I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU DO THIS. SERIOUSLY I'M NOT. But like most things in this world if there's a will there's a way.
At this point -- at least in our area -- target groups have had AMPLE opportunity through County clinics to get the shot if they want it.
The dirty little secret is that many Drs have actually received vaccine but aren't publicizing it because they don't want to be overwhelmed. (Or in some cases saved doses for family members -- I'm not judging mind you, I'm just saying).
So they are letting local governments handle the load. In our case, we're fortunate enough to live in a county that has been preparing and drilling pandemic flu scenarios for the past five years both from a logistical/health standpoint and a communication standpoint. They are utilizing every tool from traditional media to social media to keep people informed and educated.
If you are not satisfied with how your local health departments are handling things, I would urge you to contact your local elected official or state elected officials and tell them your concerns. They are the ones who can get things moving if it's possible or if there's some logjam.
Ultimately folks need to seek out information, be patient and then act when the opportunity arises.
I think a lot of folks are getting complacent now that the cases are not as high as some expected (although every life lost is a tragedy for that family). OF course we really haven't hit flu season full force yet and the next few months may change things drastically.
We'll see.
Stay healthy out there!