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Nov 14, 2009 7:33 pm US/Central
Low Turnout At Twin Cities H1N1 Vaccine Clinics
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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The numbers dropped off within an hour of opening the doors of Bloomington's H1N1 Flu vaccination clinic held at Kennedy High School.
CBS
The turnout was low at several H1N1 vaccination clinics in the Twin Cities. With the vaccine in short supply, organizers expected thousands to rush to get the free shots or nasal spray. Instead, volunteers and staff stood around waiting for what they call a trickle of vaccine seekers coming to the clinics.
There were two free H1N1 flu vaccine clinics held Saturday; one in Hennepin County, the other in Carver County.
Organizers at both locations say the clinics were a success, even though they did not service as many people as expected.
"We had a line of people and we had some strollers kind of coming around the building a little bit first thing this morning," said Karen Zeleznak, public health administrator for the city of Bloomington.
The numbers dropped off within an hour of opening the doors of Bloomington's H1N1 Flu vaccination clinic held at Kennedy High School.
"We were targeting pregnant women and little children ages 6 months through 23 months," said Zeleznak.
The number of people who fit that category was so few, some staff and volunteers were asked to leave early. Doses of the H1N1 vaccine were prepped for the more than 1,000 people expected there.
Numbers of how many doses were ordered or left over were not released. Because the flu shot is in short supply, for security reasons those numbers are kept confidential.
"It's been a concern, just because so many kids have been sick in the schools and having them protected is a big deal for me," said Kara Docter, mother of four.
There was a steady flow of 5- to 9-year-olds coming to Carver County's H1N1 nasal vaccine clinic held inside the Waconia high school gym.
"It's important so I don't get the swine flu as bad," said 8-year-old Abbie Docter.
The young people said they felt lucky to be vaccinated against H1N1, and now their parents want others to know there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to protecting your children.
"I think the risks of the flu right now versus the vaccine, it's a definite. For me, it was an easy answer to bring them in and get them vaccinated against it," said Kara Docter.
For most, it was the first does of the H1N1 vaccine that primes their immune system. The second dose provides immune protection, but right now the availability for the second dose is uncertain.
As many as 15 counties in the state may not receive the vaccines they requested. Twenty-three-thousand doses of the vaccine were ordered and it's believed only 4,500 will arrive on Monday. That's less than 20 percent
Officials say they will know by Monday at noon how many doses of the vaccine will be available to continue to have the clinics for the public.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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