Published: October 29, 2009 12:08 am      

H1N1 shots

Second clinic successful; still not enough vaccine

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, there were 245 people waiting outside the Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department in hopes of getting vaccinated against the H1N1 flu.

With the temperature in the high 50’s and a slight mist of rain falling from the sky, two nurse volunteers walked around the long line taking a tally of how many were requesting the shot form of the H1N1 vaccination and how many desired the inter-nasal dose.

’One hundred and eighty five people want the shot and 60 people are requesting the nasal mist,’ a young nurse volunteer said.

As the nurses finished their count, a middle age woman stepped out of the back of the line to ask if the health department ran out of vaccinations for children two and under.

’We don’t know,’ the young volunteer replied.

’Well how can I find out so I don’t have to stand outside with an 11-month old?’ the woman asked, appearing somewhat irritated.

Wyoming County resident Ruby Lester, 64, said she waited in line for more than two hours and got turned away at the door.

’Even though I have COPD, I’m over 64 so they wouldn’t let me have it,’ Lester said.

’I don’t think this lines going to move very fast,’ a mother standing near the back of the line with her young child said. ’This isn’t good, considering I didn’t bring the stroller.’

Most in line stood with young children, many equipped with strollers, blankets, mittens and winter coats. Several groups of young children made friends with other youngsters in line and were playing calmly near family members.

While some appeared frustrated with the more than two and a half hour wait, others commended the health department on their hard work.

’Those people in there are working real hard. They’re trying their best,’ said Daniels resident Billy Pate.

’We really appreciate everything everybody’s done to get these shots in here. I know there’s a shortage of them and they’re doing the best they can,’ Pate commented.

Billy and wife Dedra brought their three children, ages nine months, six and four to get vaccinated.

’We’ve been researching this a lot and our doctor suggested that we do it, especially since the elementary schools are crawling with swine flu,’ Dedra said.

63-year old Oceana resident Shirley Cline , who suffers from emphysema, said she’d been waiting in line since 8:30 a.m., more than two hours, and still had quite a ways to go.

’We didn’t know we were going to wait two hours in the cold,’ Cline said.

She and daughter, Lisa Cline Mills, 43, of Oceana, wore face masks while they stood with hundreds of others.

’We use them to mow grass or anything to not inhale stuff,’ Mills said of the masks they purchased at Wal-Mart.

’We’ve been coughed on ... You wouldn’t believe how many times,’ said Mills.

Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department Director of Nursing Candance Hurd said the clinic would more than likely run out of vaccines before it’s scheduled closing time of 7 p.m.

’We had a big turnout,’ Hurd said. ’I’ll probably be out before then honestly. We may still have some inter-nasal (vaccines) left, I don’t know,’ she said.

Similar to Saturday’s clinic, Hurd said when she arrived at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, there was already a large line of people waiting.

This time, no one camped out.

Hurd wants to remind parents that the health department will start vaccinating Raleigh County students who have turned in a parent consent form in the upcoming weeks.

Hurd says it’s too early to predict when a mass vaccine clinic will be available for the general population.

’ E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com