Dispensing clinic draws long lines for flu vaccines

Young Delilinea Smith shed some real tears while sitting on her mom's lap at the mass dispensing clinic in Berryville on Friday. She had just received an H1N1 vaccine in one arm and a seasonal flu shot in the other. Administering the shots were nurse Trissa Spencer, with the Carroll County Health Unit, and Kerri Gustavus, a community nurse volunteer. Anna Mathews / Carroll County News [Order this photo]

People started lining up at 6 a.m. for the clinic's 8 a.m. start time at the First Assembly of God Church. Throughout the day, there were long lines of residents waiting to receive their vaccinations

They were separated into three groups: the mobility- impaired who moved through a drive-though line, and the walk-ins who waited in either the pediatric line, or the adult line.

Only pregnant women and children age six months through four years, the "priority" patients, were given the H1N1 vaccine in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine. Everyone else was limited to the seasonal shot.

The clinic was one of many held statewide both Thursday and Friday when a total of 119,851 vaccines, both H1N1 and seasonal flu, were dispensed.

At the Berryville Clinic, organized by the Carroll County Health Unit, there was a 20-minute added wait time late in the day because of a vaccine shortage, said CCHU director Sherri Plumlee.

"At 3 p.m., we ran out of the seasonal vaccine," said Plumlee. "We had 600 more doses coming and they arrived at 3:20, so we did have a 20-minute lapse."

She said most people were patient, although some noted their disappointment when told they couldn't get both vaccines.

A second dispensing clinic is scheduled for Dec. 4, Plumlee said, although a time and place haven't been determined. It is hoped, she said, and "more than likely," that both vaccines will be available at that time.

In the meantime, Plumlee said residents can check with the CCHU to see if more H1N1 vaccines have arrived -- but they should wait until next week to call.

"I can't do anything with it until after this last school clinic," she explained. "That's a priority."

She was referring to the Berryville School clinics, scheduled for this Wednesday and Thursday.

Once the last of school clinics are behind her, she said the CCHU may have H1N1 available, but people should call first, she said.

After reviewing what went on at last Friday's mass dispensing clinic, Plumlee said it ran as expected.

"The last eight years, that's what we practice for," she explained, "a mass dispensing clinic.

"I don't like the walk-through part, but we set it up that way thinking we would have both vaccines, and it's hard to give shots in both arms when someone is in a vehicle."

She said the staffing was "excellent" with area nurses, bank employees, local fire departments, Tyson Foods nurses, St. John's nurses, and the Office of Emergency Management, along with community members all stepping up to help.

Food for the volunteers, she said, was provided by Sonic, Daylight Donuts, KFC, Good Times, and Pizza Hut, and drinks and paper products were donated by Walmart.

"I want to thank everyone!" she said. "I couldn't do it without them!