Pregnant East Meadow mom to get swine flu shot

Mary Katz is getting the swine flu shot.

The pregnant East Meadow mother, scheduled to deliver twins by Caesarean section next Thursday, had been unable to find any doctor who could give her the H1N1 vaccine - even though pregnant women are at the top of the government's list of who should get the shot.

But Katz is scheduled to get the vaccine at her regular morning appointment Thursday with her Great Neck obstetrician, Dr. Victor Klein. Klein, who works full-time for North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, is getting 100 doses of the vaccine Thursday, according to North Shore-LIJ spokesman Terry Lynam.

"I am absolutely relieved," Katz said. She said she had worried not only about her own health but also about the health of her soon-to-be-born twin girls. Getting the H1N1 flu shot means she will confer immunity to her unborn children as well.

Lynam said the hospital system has received about 21,000 doses of the vaccine; the biggest shipment came last week, he said.