Hollister’s Pat Johns stood in line today at the Veterans
Memorial Building waiting for a seasonal flu vaccine. She was
joined by hundreds of others who had formed a line before the event
started stretching a block down to Sixth Street and around the
corner.
”
It isn’t anything I normally do,
”
Johns said shortly after the 1:30 p.m. clinic began.
”
I’m getting ready to take a couple of trips (to Mexico) this
year and needed to at least start the process.
”
HOLLISTER
Hollister’s Pat Johns stood in line today at the Veterans Memorial Building waiting for a seasonal flu vaccine. She was joined by hundreds of others who had formed a line before the event started stretching a block down to Sixth Street and around the corner.
“It isn’t anything I normally do,” Johns said shortly after the 1:30 p.m. clinic began. “I’m getting ready to take a couple of trips (to Mexico) this year and needed to at least start the process.”
Illness prevention appears to be top of mind for many people these days. Public health officials, though, weren’t concerned about having enough doses to vaccinate all the residents because the state sent 3,400 doses – about 1,300 more than the 2008 clinic when the county ran out of vaccines, said Sam Perez, public information officer for the health department.
Perez attributed the larger-than-usual crowd, which health officials had anticipated, to all the hype surrounding the H1N1 flu and a media campaign to ensure locals were aware of the free seasonal flu clinic. It led to about 500 vaccinations in the clinic’s first 15 minutes alone, she said.
For residents who may have expected an H1N1 vaccine – health officials initially said it would be available to eligible children – it was unattainable because the county ran out of the 600 doses it received about a month ago, Perez said.
Still, all the talk of the H1N1 flu has helped to get citizens aware of such preventative measures, Perez said. That’s a good thing because health experts recommend getting both vaccines because neither protects against the counterpart virus’ ailments.
“They’re being more proactive,” Perez said. “People want to get the seasonal flu as well as the H1N1 vaccine.”
They may have a chance to get the H1N1 vaccine at a tentatively set, follow-up clinic Nov. 17. The event hinges on whether the county receives a “substantial” number of doses before then, Perez said. If it does not, public health likely will distribute the vaccines from its office and by channeling them through the “medical care community,” she said.
Today’s clinic at the Veterans Memorial Building is scheduled to last until 6:30 p.m.
Look for the full story in the Pinnacle on Friday.
