Lines Grow For Swine Flu Vaccine

Demand for vaccinations against the H1N1 flu continues to be high. People waited in line for hours on Thursday at the first public clinic in Prince George's county.

There were long lines, but it wasn't the huge crowd we saw in Montgomery County days earlier-- perhaps because Prince George's County has been aggressively vaccinating in schools for weeks.

Even though the H1N1 vaccinations were not scheduled to begin until 9:00 a.m., people started showing up at the county health clinic in Cheverly at 5:50 a.m. And then the lines got pretty long. Daniel hillary waited for two hours because he believes in vaccinations.

"You're still getting shots for different diseases," said Hillary, a retired bricklayer. "This is just another one they found out about. And we're doing the same thing over again, so the track record is good."

Breanna Cowe is eight months pregnant, and she got a swine flu shot.

"I talked to my doctor-- and my sister, actually, is an OB as well-- so between my doctor and my sister's recommendation, I decided to go ahead and get it," said Cowe. "The risks of not getting it are actually higher than the risks of getting it."

Because children are sometimes hit hard by the swine flu, the Richardson family of New Carrollton got all three of their children vaccinated.

Not everyone had to wait in the long line. Some of those who booked appointments by phone were in and out in 15 to 30 minutes. But getting an appointment was quite a challenge.

"The people I talked to said you've just got to keep calling that 888-number," said Mitchelville resident Darlene Rush. "Couldn't get thru."

Precisely at noon, the line was cut off.

"As long as you're in the line, and we do have supplies, you will be seen," said George Barrow, assistant health officer for the county.
Everyone in line did get a vaccination. The county does have enough vaccine to continue the widespread vaccination of children.

"We hope to be finished all our elementary schools in about two weeks – two and a half weeks, said Dr. Donald Shell, Prince George's County health officer. "We'll then move to middle schools and high schools. And then we have to go back to the elementary schools in late November for a second round of H1N1 vaccine."

There will be another public clinic for H1N1 vaccinations next Thursday. However, it will be by appointment only.

The health department in Prince George's County will be putting in more phone lines and have more personnel on hand to answer the phones. Again, next Thursday's clinic in Prince George's County will be by appointment only.

On The Net:

http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov

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