The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

H1N1 vaccine clinic lines moving faster

People line up on Thursday, Nov. 12, outside the Hara Arena complex for an H1N1 flu vaccination clinic by Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County. Some arrived as early as 8 a.m. for the vaccinations, which were to be given from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Chris Stewart/Chris Stewart People line up on Thursday, Nov. 12, outside the Hara Arena complex for an H1N1 flu vaccination clinic by Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County. Some arrived as early as 8 a.m. for the vaccinations, which were to be given from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Former Butler County girl on Sports illustrated cover
Updated 14 min. ago
Cities declare snow emergencies; lull in snowfall expected at rush hour
Updated 14 min. ago
Psych evaluation ordered for teen accused of raping 64-year-old woman
Updated 17 min. ago
Rape investigation stalls at Miami
1:51 p.m.
High school, college basketball makeup dates
1:38 p.m.
> More headlines

By Anthony Gottschlich, Staff Writer Updated 12:21 AM Friday, November 13, 2009

TROTWOOD — Lines at local H1N1 flu vaccine clinics were fast moving Thursday, Nov. 12, setting the stage for a possible clinic for the general public next week in Montgomery County and at schools in Greene County.

At Hara Arena in Trotwood, children, pregnant women and others deemed high priority by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started lining up at 8 a.m. for the second clinic there in two weeks.

Once the doors opened at 1 p.m., the line of roughly 1,500 people moved so quickly there was no waiting 90 minutes later.

“We’re working our way through our target population,” said Montgomery County Health Commissioner Jim Gross, explaining the difference from the thousands who lined up last week for a similar clinic at University of Dayton Arena.

Some waited in line for two hours or so at the UD clinic, where 3,600 residents were vaccinated. About 2,300 were vaccinated over four hours Thursday at Hara.

Eric and Fran Ziegler of Kettering were relieved to get the vaccine.

“We thought we were going to be late, but we were the first ones here,” Fran Ziegler, 54, said. “I get sick a lot,” she said.

An H1N1 clinic at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, the county’s third there, also showed a diminished crowd.

An estimated 2,800 people were vaccinated, said Sara Pappa, a spokeswoman for the Greene County Combined Health District.

Starting next week, the district plans to hold clinics in schools , one building per school district, until Thanksgiving break.

Additional clinics at the fairgrounds will be held in December, she said.

Federal health officials say 4,000 or more Americans likely have died from H1N1, or swine flu — about four times the estimate they’ve been using. The figure, first reported by The New York Times, includes deaths caused by complications related to swine flu, including pneumonia and bacterial infections.

Until now, the CDC had conservatively put the U.S. swine flu death count at more than 1,000. Officials said this week they’re working on an even more accurate calculation.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

I can't believe people actually got to the clinic at 5 hours before it opened! I was in and out in 30 minutes with my son, and even got one for myself! Wondering ~ there is a lot of research on the web, that is for sure but I encourage people to use credible sources. Anyone can say ANYTHING and post it on the web. However, it doesn't mean it is necessarily correct information. There are alot of people out there that run their mouths about alot of things that they know nothing about!

Erin
11:08 PM, 11/12/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Got my vaccine from the Miami County clinic on Tuesday, they had opened the clinic up to everyone. Had no side effects at all...

Jason
10:11 PM, 11/12/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Waiting still:

I'm wondering if your wait is a blessing in disguise? Do some research on this vaccine before you believe the officials. There are many women out here claiming to have miscarried after receiving this vaccine. Look into it. Do a google search and then make a decision.

Wondering
7:14 PM, 11/12/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Shirley: people 50 and over are not at high-risk for H1N1 flu. They are at high for the seasonal flu.

Molly
5:20 PM, 11/12/2009

REPORT ABUSE

would it make sense to schedule clinics just for health care workers? I wonder if the public is aware that hospitals and nursing homes and doctors offices are not offering-nor have available- these vaccinations to their employee's. Medical proffessionals are not given the day off to stand in long lines and typically work a lot of hours. I guess we assume that when we go to the hospital we are being treated by people who have been vaccinated. I agree high risk people need the shot.

asm
5:07 PM, 11/12/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 8 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.