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Several thousand people showed up for an H1N1 vaccination clinic at Perry Hall Middle School in Baltimore County Saturday, with some camping out the night before to make sure they received a shot. Many were turned away after injectable doses ran out.
Residents waited for hours on folding chairs and under umbrellas, forming a line that snaked for a mile through the Baltimore County community.
So many people arrived early for the free vaccinations -- some as soon as the night before -- that the 125 county health department staffers pulled out their vaccine needles and sprays two hours before the scheduled 10 a.m. start time, said Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Branch.
"It was worth the wait," said Robin Searles-Adenegan of Baltimore, as she and her children emerged from the clinic at 1:40 p.m., more than five hours after they got in line.
As with hundreds of other parents at the school, Searles-Adenegan, a University of Maryland University College biology instructor, was not able to receive the shot. She is not pregnant or a health care worker, and does not suffer from medical problems. But many adults did fall in the priority grouping, and were able to receive shots.
Glen Smith, a hospital worker from Towson, got his vaccination on his left arm -- right on the lip of a tattoo of his granddaughter. His wife, Sandra, and teenage son Malik also got shots.
Ushers guided individuals and groups to 10 vaccination stations in a school multipurpose room, filled with the din of parents calming antsy toddlers and babies screaming.
"Two children. No naps," said Ridgely Bowman of Homeland, who was trying to corral her toddlers with help from her pregnant sister, Lizzy Sweeney, also of Homeland. The children cried and dropped toys as they got their shots.
The group waited only about two hours. They got a prime spot because another member of the family arrived before dawn and saved a place in the line for them, allowing the children to sleep in.
"My godmother actually got here at 5:30 in the morning," Sweeney said. "Then we met her at 9 o'clock."
Others stood in line to save a place for college-age children, for whom they'd become especially concerned since an 18-year-old Anne Arundel Community College student died Wednesday. While the cause of death has not been confirmed, the parents of Walter Brooks said doctors called it swine flu.
The well-behaved crowd shared cookie stashes, space beneath umbrellas and stories with strangers. They carried empty food wrappers and drink cups to the trash bins.
The more energetic youngsters climbed trees and played on the school's hillside, calling out to their parents for more pretzels, raisins and juice. "Julia! That's your karate uniform -- look at it," Lisa Perez shouted at her grinning 8-year-old on a hill. The white outfit was covered in dirt.
Branch, the county health officer, estimated that the county received enough vaccine for 2,500 to 3,000 adult doses for the clinic held only days after three others were canceled last week because of a lack of vaccine. He expects more vaccine to arrive within a few weeks.
Most of those vaccinated Saturday were children, Branch said. And because children require smaller doses, the injectable supply went further.
Still, the clinic ran out of injectable vaccine after about five hours, turning away anyone who didn't meet the requirements for the nasal spray version. Pregnant women, those with health problems and children under two cannot receive the spray.
"I was the first person they told no more shots," said Elizabeth McKenzie of Parkville, who, because she is pregnant, is not a candidate for the nasal mist. She and her husband, Brian, were not entirely disappointed. Their son Cameron, 2, got his spray vaccine, and his Curious George stuffed animal was wearing a sticker to prove it. And nurses told the couple that Elizabeth McKenzie could call for an appointment to avoid another five-hour wait.
Others were not as pleased.
"Five hours for nothing," said Tony Hynes of Dundalk. None of his three children could be vaccinated after the injectable vaccine ran out, because they are asthmatic and cannot receive the nasal spray.
One elderly woman with health problems and who had not eaten all day became ill and was treated by paramedics.
Tina Baynes and her 11-year-old son, from Street in Harford County, spent three hours in line only to find out that his asthma precluded him from getting the mist vaccine.
"Next time," she said, "we going to spend the night in the car."
Residents waited for hours on folding chairs and under umbrellas, forming a line that snaked for a mile through the Baltimore County community.
So many people arrived early for the free vaccinations -- some as soon as the night before -- that the 125 county health department staffers pulled out their vaccine needles and sprays two hours before the scheduled 10 a.m. start time, said Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Branch.
"It was worth the wait," said Robin Searles-Adenegan of Baltimore, as she and her children emerged from the clinic at 1:40 p.m., more than five hours after they got in line.
As with hundreds of other parents at the school, Searles-Adenegan, a University of Maryland University College biology instructor, was not able to receive the shot. She is not pregnant or a health care worker, and does not suffer from medical problems. But many adults did fall in the priority grouping, and were able to receive shots.
Glen Smith, a hospital worker from Towson, got his vaccination on his left arm -- right on the lip of a tattoo of his granddaughter. His wife, Sandra, and teenage son Malik also got shots.
Ushers guided individuals and groups to 10 vaccination stations in a school multipurpose room, filled with the din of parents calming antsy toddlers and babies screaming.
"Two children. No naps," said Ridgely Bowman of Homeland, who was trying to corral her toddlers with help from her pregnant sister, Lizzy Sweeney, also of Homeland. The children cried and dropped toys as they got their shots.
The group waited only about two hours. They got a prime spot because another member of the family arrived before dawn and saved a place in the line for them, allowing the children to sleep in.
"My godmother actually got here at 5:30 in the morning," Sweeney said. "Then we met her at 9 o'clock."
Others stood in line to save a place for college-age children, for whom they'd become especially concerned since an 18-year-old Anne Arundel Community College student died Wednesday. While the cause of death has not been confirmed, the parents of Walter Brooks said doctors called it swine flu.
The well-behaved crowd shared cookie stashes, space beneath umbrellas and stories with strangers. They carried empty food wrappers and drink cups to the trash bins.
The more energetic youngsters climbed trees and played on the school's hillside, calling out to their parents for more pretzels, raisins and juice. "Julia! That's your karate uniform -- look at it," Lisa Perez shouted at her grinning 8-year-old on a hill. The white outfit was covered in dirt.
Branch, the county health officer, estimated that the county received enough vaccine for 2,500 to 3,000 adult doses for the clinic held only days after three others were canceled last week because of a lack of vaccine. He expects more vaccine to arrive within a few weeks.
Most of those vaccinated Saturday were children, Branch said. And because children require smaller doses, the injectable supply went further.
Still, the clinic ran out of injectable vaccine after about five hours, turning away anyone who didn't meet the requirements for the nasal spray version. Pregnant women, those with health problems and children under two cannot receive the spray.
"I was the first person they told no more shots," said Elizabeth McKenzie of Parkville, who, because she is pregnant, is not a candidate for the nasal mist. She and her husband, Brian, were not entirely disappointed. Their son Cameron, 2, got his spray vaccine, and his Curious George stuffed animal was wearing a sticker to prove it. And nurses told the couple that Elizabeth McKenzie could call for an appointment to avoid another five-hour wait.
Others were not as pleased.
"Five hours for nothing," said Tony Hynes of Dundalk. None of his three children could be vaccinated after the injectable vaccine ran out, because they are asthmatic and cannot receive the nasal spray.
One elderly woman with health problems and who had not eaten all day became ill and was treated by paramedics.
Tina Baynes and her 11-year-old son, from Street in Harford County, spent three hours in line only to find out that his asthma precluded him from getting the mist vaccine.
"Next time," she said, "we going to spend the night in the car."
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If sitting out in the early morning cold and rain while allowing my wife and three little girls to sleep and stay warm is being selfish, I am guilty as charged. Only the kids got the mist because my wife and I weren't at risk.
turnerstorm (10/27/2009, 10:20 AM )