Thousands line up for drive-through H1N1 shots

November 5, 2009

Thousands line up for H1N1 shots

Some camp 16 hours for swine flu vaccine

By Dave Stafford, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer

ANDERSON, Ind. — Madison County conducted its first public H1N1 vaccination

clinic Wednesday evening as thousands of people lined up for a limited supply of

inoculations against the virus commonly referred to as swine flu.

Nine-year-old Tommy Mullins said the shot didn't even hurt as he left the clinic

outside Hoosier Park with his family, who said they were pleased with the way

the large-scale event was organized.

Not everyone agreed, and not everyone who came would get the vaccine.

" We got here at 20 after midnight, " Roxanne Fite said. The shots were advertised

to be given beginning at 5 p.m., more than 16 hours after Fite arrived, on a

first-come, first-served basis. " We were first in line, and now look where we

are. "

Fite was among those who waited for the vaccinations in hundreds of cars parked

at Hoosier Park shortly after 4 p.m. At the same time, bumper-to-bumper traffic

crept into the casino entrances in lines that snaked all the way to Scatterfield

Road and 38th and 53rd streets.

" It's been really hectic out here, " said Pam , who arrived at 2 p.m. to

try to make sure her 3-year-old son, Dante, got the vaccine. She said county

health officials would not distribute paperwork to be filled out by those who

were waiting.

" It was all unorganized, " she said...

said the vaccination clinic was a novel approach — drive-through

inoculations in which those getting shots didn't have to leave their vehicles.

Its scope was also something new.

She said those seeking shots waited on average about 25 minutes from the time

they received paperwork until they were vaccinated.

" For all of us, this method of vaccination delivery is something this generation

has not seen, " she said, noting that agencies as far away as Florida have

contacted the Health Department to learn about the format. " We're one of the

first sites to do a drive-through for H1N1. "

But even that has problems.

" I was on a bicycle and they said they would not allow me to come out here on a

bicycle, " said Sonny Warner. " I don't live but two or three blocks away. "

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