Well, what a day! Burlington county, NJ hosted a free H1N1 clinic for children under 5, pregnant ladies, and caregivers for kids under 2. The clinic was scheduled to run from 2-4pm. So Spouse and I called a couple of days in advance checking with the clinic to see if there had been a large number of inquiries. We were told they were getting lots of calls, so we decided to go a little early.
We packed up some food; nuts, cheese and crackers, juice, hot cocoa, blankets, and laptop, bundled up the two little ones and set off, arriving a little before 12pm. There was already a line of 3 or 4 hundred people stretching around two walls of the building. Three or four police officers were directing traffic. We parked, and duly took our spot at the end of the line.
A beautiful autumn day, the bright sunshine contrasted the air temperature in the high 40s. People continued to trickle in, by 1 o? clock there were around 7 to 800 people in line, good natured. Just from talking to the people around me, heightened awareness of H1N1, and also most had got the seasonal shot for the first time this year. Others were unable to get it as many GPs and pharmacies have run out. A nice lady from the red cross went the length of the line handing out cookies, juice and coffee.
A young man came down the line, with paperwork and little tickets with numbers on. There were two options, shot or mist, and the paperwork helped to decide who got what, we went for mist. Pens were provided. We were given the numbers 287, and 288. By now, the end of the line has disappeared around the building and out of sight. 1:15 Rumour: They?re starting early, people are being let in. At 1:30, the line shuffle forward maybe 5 feet. You may leave the line if you want, we are told, the ticket holds your place. Some parents take kids back to their cars to warm up, our two are eating crackers and drinking cocoa, having great fun.
It?s surreal, after months of tracking to be here in line with well nigh a thousand people. A man with a Sponge Bob tie comes down the line calling for pregnant women without children to a special line of their own. I guess they must all be getting shots. By 1:50, the line has moved maybe 20 feet, but that?s mostly because people were leaving the line in search of a restroom, some went to the WaWa for coffee. Kids getting antsy, so we put Coraline on the laptop, wrapped ?em up and sat ?em in the sun.
By 2:00, a constant stream of people is walking past us toward the end of the line. The Parking lots are full and cars are parked on the main road as far as the eye can see.
We?re moving!!! At three o?clock, we have moved about half way up the line. NBC arrives, 5 minutes later CBS arrives, a little later The Philadelphia Inquirer camera man is shooting pictures of everybody. Shuffle Shuffle, past a stand where Red Cross lady is giving out more coffee, juice and water. Snacks all gone. Kids Antsy!! 3:45 we reach the doors. Spouse has to leave for work. Just me and the sprogs left. We?re in. Too warm! Off with the coats. Shuffle Shuffle. Down a hallway. Everybody still in great spirits. Ushers very friendly and helpful, keep remarking how unexpected the crowd was. They?re working through their breaks. Into a waiting room, nurse checks papers. Back into the line in the hallway, shuffle, shuffle.
4:00 in the actual-real-honest-to-God-you?re-next waiting room.
In the room, last check on the paperwork, mist one, mist two. Very quick. The clinic should be over by now. What are you going to do with all the people outside I ask. Keep goin? til there?s none left. Keep an eye on them for 10 minutes she tells me before leaving. I pick up the record cards, thank her and we?re off. Through the exit at the back of the building. Oh there?s the end of the line! Still about 800 people waiting. Gonna take six more hours to get through ?em all.
I gotta come back next week for my shot.
We packed up some food; nuts, cheese and crackers, juice, hot cocoa, blankets, and laptop, bundled up the two little ones and set off, arriving a little before 12pm. There was already a line of 3 or 4 hundred people stretching around two walls of the building. Three or four police officers were directing traffic. We parked, and duly took our spot at the end of the line.
A beautiful autumn day, the bright sunshine contrasted the air temperature in the high 40s. People continued to trickle in, by 1 o? clock there were around 7 to 800 people in line, good natured. Just from talking to the people around me, heightened awareness of H1N1, and also most had got the seasonal shot for the first time this year. Others were unable to get it as many GPs and pharmacies have run out. A nice lady from the red cross went the length of the line handing out cookies, juice and coffee.
A young man came down the line, with paperwork and little tickets with numbers on. There were two options, shot or mist, and the paperwork helped to decide who got what, we went for mist. Pens were provided. We were given the numbers 287, and 288. By now, the end of the line has disappeared around the building and out of sight. 1:15 Rumour: They?re starting early, people are being let in. At 1:30, the line shuffle forward maybe 5 feet. You may leave the line if you want, we are told, the ticket holds your place. Some parents take kids back to their cars to warm up, our two are eating crackers and drinking cocoa, having great fun.
It?s surreal, after months of tracking to be here in line with well nigh a thousand people. A man with a Sponge Bob tie comes down the line calling for pregnant women without children to a special line of their own. I guess they must all be getting shots. By 1:50, the line has moved maybe 20 feet, but that?s mostly because people were leaving the line in search of a restroom, some went to the WaWa for coffee. Kids getting antsy, so we put Coraline on the laptop, wrapped ?em up and sat ?em in the sun.
By 2:00, a constant stream of people is walking past us toward the end of the line. The Parking lots are full and cars are parked on the main road as far as the eye can see.
We?re moving!!! At three o?clock, we have moved about half way up the line. NBC arrives, 5 minutes later CBS arrives, a little later The Philadelphia Inquirer camera man is shooting pictures of everybody. Shuffle Shuffle, past a stand where Red Cross lady is giving out more coffee, juice and water. Snacks all gone. Kids Antsy!! 3:45 we reach the doors. Spouse has to leave for work. Just me and the sprogs left. We?re in. Too warm! Off with the coats. Shuffle Shuffle. Down a hallway. Everybody still in great spirits. Ushers very friendly and helpful, keep remarking how unexpected the crowd was. They?re working through their breaks. Into a waiting room, nurse checks papers. Back into the line in the hallway, shuffle, shuffle.
4:00 in the actual-real-honest-to-God-you?re-next waiting room.
In the room, last check on the paperwork, mist one, mist two. Very quick. The clinic should be over by now. What are you going to do with all the people outside I ask. Keep goin? til there?s none left. Keep an eye on them for 10 minutes she tells me before leaving. I pick up the record cards, thank her and we?re off. Through the exit at the back of the building. Oh there?s the end of the line! Still about 800 people waiting. Gonna take six more hours to get through ?em all.
I gotta come back next week for my shot.
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