1,000+ Line Up for Swine Flu Vaccine

People waited hours in long lines on Wednesday, enduring the cold just to get a free swine flu vaccine. The line started forming two hours before Montgomery County's vaccine clinic in Silver Spring opened.

By the time it opened at 9:00 a.m. the line snaked around the building. Outside workers using a bull horn told everyone to be patient, promising, "We have enough vaccines for everyone."

It's the first time the county health department has had any of the injectable vaccine. Pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems cannot have the nasal mist vaccine, which is in largest supply now because it contains a weakened live virus. The health department started the day with 6,400 dose-- 5,000 of them the nasal mist and only 1,400 shots.

So many people showed up to get the swine flu vaccine that police stood at the entrance directing traffic. Staff cut off the line at noon when the clinic ended, but everyone got their shots. The health department says it continues to get more vaccines and will continue to hold clinics until they run out or people stop coming.

Parents stood in the long lines, many with small children, along with pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions.

"We really don't want to get sick," said Joanne Thomson, who showed up at 9:00 a.m. but still waited two and a half hours.

She figured a few hours in line was better than week out of school if her son Jimmy got the swine flu. The second grader endured the cold waiting for the H1N1 vaccine with trepidation.

"I'm really scared-- what if I get hurt?" Jimmy said. He was almost inside the door at that point, but his reaction later was quite different.

Inside, nurses administered shots to those medically unable to get the mist form of the vaccine. A little girl squirmed out of her chair, crying when she saw the needle coming. Her father had to pick her up and hold the young girl tightly until the shot was over.

Another young girl braved her shot, and held her little brother's hand telling him, "That wasn't so bad, was it?" The clinic vaccinated about 1,400 people in a matter of hours.

Workers walked the line, providing information. "We have injectable and flu mist," they announced. The clinic expected large crowds, but nothing like this.

A similar clinic Friday drew just 500 people, but as word spread over the weekend, people flocked to the clinic early.

"This is the largest flu clinic we've ever had in the public health history of Montgomery County. So this is many more people than what we expected," said Carol Jordan, Director of Communicable Disease for Montgomery County's Health Department.

Maura Kilner was one of the first in line with one of her kids, and then came back later with another. Her other son already had swine flu.

"He was out of school for almost a week, and I didn't want the other to go through that, and the pediatrician's office told me they might not even get it," Kilner said.

Montgomery County plans to offer the swine flu vaccine to pre-kindergarten and head start programs in public schools. Additional clinics will be held at three area high schools for other students. Right now, only those in the high-risk groups are urged to get vaccinated because supplies are so limited.

Much of the vaccine so far has gone to hospitals and county clinics, although it is slowly trickling into doctors' offices. Maryland's Health Department expects all doctors who ordered the vaccine will receive some in the next 2-4 weeks. But many at highest risk, children, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions were unwilling to wait.

"We wanted to get it early," said Linda Fu, who is pregnant and has a toddler. She, her husband and child got vaccinated. "I got a shot," said her son Kai Koblentz, holding the pink lollipop he received as a treat. "Did it hurt?" mom asked. "No." "Was it okay?" she went on. "Yeah," Kai said proudly.

Jimmy, the young boy we first talked to was even prouder, you could say excited about his swine flu vaccine. "It was awesome... Yahoo!" Jimmy yelled as he skipped away.