Shawnee County offers H1N1 shots - FOR A WHILE

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http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/67261377.html

EXPOCENTRE -- For five hours, they stood in the rain. People living in Shawnee County, some with existing health conditions, stood in a long line for the county's first doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

The line began forming at 5:00 Thursday morning. They were let into the Kansas Expocentre shortly after 10:00 to get their protection from the virulent flu strain. Many parents complained about standing in the rain, especially if they brought children with asthma who are included in the high-risk groups.

But with an estimated 5.7 million Americans catching the virus in its first wave, a lot of them were grateful for the vaccinations.

The Expocentre's front hall was divided into four stations, three with the shot form, and one station for the nasal mist vaccine. Anyone allergic to eggs or feathers, or chronic medical conditions could NOT receive the vaccine mist. The lines moved fairly quickly, and the clinic was forced to turn people away at noon.

The next public clinic is set for Thursday, November 5th from 10:00 until 2:00 in the afternoon. They suggest people get in line at 8:00, bring clothing appropriate for the weather, and be sure to bring a pen to fill out the paperwork.

 

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Re: Shawnee County offers H1N1 shots - FOR A WHILE

H1N1 Clinic Turns People Away - CJ Online
Demand for H1N1 immunizations was so high at a free clinic held Thursday morning that organizers said they began turning people away about 90 minutes after it began.

Misty Kruger, community relations specialist for the Shawnee County Health Agency, said "quite a few" people who remained in line at 11:30 a.m. at the clinic site at the Kansas Expocentre box office would still receive the immunizations. But she discouraged others from coming.

"We're turning away people at this point," Kruger said.

The health agency made 1,400 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available through injections or nasal mist at Thursday's clinic, which had been scheduled to last until 2 p.m. or until the vaccine ran out.

County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino stressed that the county will receive more doses of the vaccine, which it plans to make available at public clinics held on Thursdays on Nov. 5, 12 and 19.

"In the end, there will be enough vaccine for everybody," he said.

A long line of umbrellas stretched along the area just east of the Expocentre's Landon Arena Thursday morning as residents waited in the rain to take part in the clinic.

Chelsea Elkins said she'd been among the first to arrive, taking her place near the front of the line at about 5 a.m.

Elkins and her 2-year-old son, Jay D., were able to keep dry as they waited under the overhang just outside the box office.

About 100 people from the front of the line, Michelle Black waited beneath umbrellas with her sons, 7-year-old Jonathan and 5-year-old Conor. She said they'd gotten to the Expocentre at about 8 a.m.

Alice Weingartner, a deputy director with the health agency, said that at future H1N1 clinics it would look at taking steps to make waiting more convenient, including letting people wait indoors at the box office.

More than 300 people were in line by the time the doors to Thursday's clinic opened shortly before 10 a.m., Kruger said.

Eleven-year-old Bryce Teaford was accompanied by his mother, Jackie Teaford, as he received his H1N1 shot shortly after 10 a.m.

Bryce said the worst thing about the clinic was waiting in the rain while the best was realizing the shot didn't hurt much.

"Actually, it went really quick," he said.

Pezzino said the H1N1 vaccination feels "like a regular flu shot."

He indicated things were running smoothly at Thursday's clinic.

"I am very satisfied and encouraged with what we've seen so far," Pezzino said.

The vaccine was only available at Thursday's clinic to pregnant women; children 6 months to 4 years old; caregivers of children 6 months and younger; children and youths ages 5 to 18 with underlying medical conditions; and health care workers with direct patient contact.

Participants coming through the doors were initially asked to fill out paperwork.

They were next directed to a "triage station" where they were informed whether they'd be vaccinated through injection or nasal mist.

Participants then received those vaccinations before turning in final paperwork and receiving a document providing proof of vaccination, Kruger said.