2,100 vaccinated at county's first H1N1 flu shot clinic

More than 2,100 people were vaccinated against H1N1 flu Wednesday at El Paso County’s first public clinic, with no one turned away and nearly 900 doses leftover.

Months of planning paid off for the roughly 160 health department workers and volunteers in a day that saw few glitches. One worker mistakenly put out a “no vaccine” sign to address the overflowing parking lot, but the sign was only up for a short time before officials caught the error.

The clinic opened at 10 a.m., with about 1,500 people in a line that spilled from the front entrance of Coronado High School onto the track and football field. The earliest arrivals were there at 5 a.m., five hours before the clinic’s start.

By 1 p.m.,the line was gone, and health officials continued giving the free shots to walk-ins. By the time the last shot was given at 4 p.m., the clinic had delivered 2,147 doses out of the 3,000 available. The unused doses will be added to the estimated 1,500 doses for the next clinic at 8:30 a.m. Friday at New Life Church, 11025 Voyager Parkway.

Unlike a few flu clinics elsewhere that have been marred by frustration and even fist fights, Wednesday’s clinic at Coronado was filled with people in good spirits. The snaking line was marked by strollers and lawn chairs. Toddlers sat on blankets, coloring or playing with toys. Older children ran and played, and several adults passed the time reading books and newspapers or getting to know one another over small talk.

Whitney Goad, who is 5 months pregnant, showed up at 7:15 a.m. and secured a place near the front of the line. She brought her book, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” to pass the time. Considered high-risk, she’s been worried about contracting H1N1 at work. She works in a video store and routinely serves people who are sick and looking to rent a movie while they stay home.

“It was worth the wait,” said Susan Zakrajsek, who was there to get shots for her two children, 7 and 5, who have chronic conditions. They’d been there since 7 a.m., but they were processed within 15 minutes of the clinic’s opening.

In the gymnasium, a sea of workers in orange vests processed people en masse over a cacophony of children’s cries. Tubs full of lollipops and sheets of stickers awaited them at the exit.

The clinic’s goal was to vaccinate people in priority groups determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: pregnant women, parents and caretakers of children 6 months and younger, health care workers, people 6 months to 24 years old, and people 25 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions such as asthma.

Workers were relying on the honor system and did not appear to be enforcing guidelines.

Although cases of the virus appear to have peaked last month, health authorities say flu prevalence remains high. Hospitalizations have already surpassed last year’s total for seasonal influenza, which has not yet been detected this year.

For most people, H1N1 has been mild and not required medical treatment. But in some cases, though, complications have been especially severe. Colorado has reported 34 swine flu deaths, two of them in El Paso County. On Tuesday the El Paso County health department announced the death of an infant boy with underlying medical conditions.

The schedule for upcoming clinics:

• Friday, 8:30 a.m., New Life Church,11025 Voyager Parkway
• Tuesday Nov. 17, 4 p.m., Harrison High School, 2755 Janitell Road.
• Thursday Nov. 19, 10 a.m., The Hangar, 6436 S. Highway 85/87 Suite R, Fountain
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