Nov 2, 2009 9:24 pm US/Eastern
Hundreds Line Up In Worcester For H1N1 Vaccine
WORCESTER (WBZ) ―
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Hundreds lined up in Worcester for the area's first H1N1 clinic.
WBZ
The handmade sign read, "Swine Flu Line."
It was perched on an empty baby stroller next to a container of hand sanitizer. "I just wanted to make sure there'd be some organization so I made this sign just in case, lets people know where line begins," said Jennifer Dowdle, who arrived at the Worcester Senior Center at 7:30 a.m. -- more than eight hours before the area's first public H1N1 clinic was to begin.
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Her interest in the H1N1 vaccine was not for herself, but for her two young children, who are 18-months and 4-years old. "I couldn't believe there was going to be a free clinic where I could get the vaccine. I'd be willing to pay for the vaccine if I could just get it for my children," said Dowdle.
Nationwide, production slowdowns have made the vaccine -- in its various forms -- hard to come by, even as swine flu has begun to hit some local communities hard.
At this clinic, Worcester public health officials targeted populations that are most vulnerable to the illness. They include pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants under six months and children between the ages of 6-months and 18-years.
Volunteers screened people to try to make sure they fell into one of those categories. "It's first come first served-- we're going to medically screen them, certainly we are concerned that some people may in fact lie, but this is the honor system and we're just going to try to medically screen the best we can," said Derek Brandisi, the city's director of public health.
Two hours after the clinic opened, the line had dwindled, and late arrivals had a very short wait.
By the end of the day, the clinic had administered over 900 doses.
There was a concern the clinic would run out of the H1N1 vaccine, but they ended up with extra. Officials hope to hold another clinic soon.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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