Clinic draws crowd

People lined up by the hundreds Thursday night for the first of Jackson County Health Department’s H1N1 flu vaccination for ages 4 to 24.

Before the doors opened, the line of people waiting wrapped around the side of the Jackson County Health Department and past the Jackson-Jennings Co-Op building, which neighbors the health department.

Environmentalist Paul Ramsey said the health department was estimated to give about 300 H1N1 flu vaccinations during the clinic. Seven more clinics are scheduled at the health department.

The department passed out numbers to those waiting. Numbers were called when more people could go inside for their vaccinations.

“We passed out 200 numbers and then did another hundred,” Ramsey said. He said they were watching the flow of people and hoped to get the people there at 8 p.m. in, but would stop at a certain number. He said they didn’t want people standing in line outside for hours if they weren’t going to be able to get in Thursday.

“I don’t know when we will be done,” Ramsey said.

He also said the process of this clinic will be critiqued, just as the other clinics have been. Adjustments will be made as needed to what worked at this clinic and what didn’t work.

Some were turned away from the clinic before it even opened.

“We were told at 4:30 p.m. we couldn’t get the vaccination tonight because they passed out numbers at 2 o’clock,” Richard Hart of County Avenue in Seymour said. “It infuriates me. That’s just not right. They said all along there would be no appointments, that it was a walk-in clinic.”

Hart was taking his 14-year-old daughter to the clinic. He said he would have to decide whether to attend one of the next clinics scheduled this month.

“There were a lot of people upset,” Hart added.

Before opening the doors to the clinic, Lin Montgomery, Jackson County public health coordinator, said she did expect a large crowd.

“Hopefully, people would be interested in getting the vaccine,” she said. There was one extra nurse at the health department giving vaccinations Thursday night.

Kaelen Eglen, 8, set an example for her 3-year-old sister Thursday evening when she received her H1N1 flu vaccination.

“It didn’t hurt at all,” Eglen said. “I just felt a little pinch. I didn’t cry at all.”

Eglen was a role model for her sister, Kylie, who said after receiving her shot that it helped that her big sister went before her.

Staci and Jon Eglen also got their shots along with the girls. The family got their number at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

“You don’t know how bad it can get,” Staci said of the H1N1 flu. “You just want to protect yourself.”

Holding numbers 105 and 107, Sharon Reedy of Seymour was standing at the front of the line at Thursday’s flu clinic.

Arriving around 3 p.m. Thursday, Reedy said she expected the crowd.

She was in line with her son, Tyler Reedy, 13, who said he doesn’t know very much about the vaccine but said “whatever she says goes,” referring to Sharon.

Rachel Nott of Crothersville arrived at the Jackson County Health Department at 3:30 p.m. with her daughter Megan.

“I have an 8-year-old daughter and I want to make sure she is protected,” Rachel said. “It’s all you’re hearing on the news right now.”

Candie Atkins of Seymour was waiting on the steps of the health center with her grandsons Jaden Adams, 9, and Tryson Luedeman, 5.

“We battle them enough being sick without the H1N1,” Atkins said of their chronic illness and asthma.

Waiting in the line of people Thursday night were Melissa Rouse and her sons Aaron, 4, and Ethan 8.

“I just thought it was important the kids have it to make sure they are protected and as safe as we can,” Melissa said.

Duane Davis, director of the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency, said he was surprised at the number of people in line for the vaccination.

“The numbers show people are beginning to take this seriously,” Davis said.

He said people were being patient and orderly as they waited outside the building.

Future H1N1 clinics

Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 9 from 5 p.m. to 8  p.m.

Nov. 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (This clinic is to give the recommended second dose to children who were inoculated at the Oct. 20 clinic. The CDC recommends a second dose for children younger than the age of 10. All other children between the ages of 2 to 4 may also attend.)

Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Children’s Seasonal Flu Clinic

What: Annual children’s seasonal flu clinic for children 6 months to 18 years

Who: Jackson County Health Department

When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 or while vaccine lasts

Cost: $5 administration fee unless Medicaid eligible

Where: Jackson County Health Department, 801 W. Second St., Seymour

Appointments are not necessary.