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BUTLER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Day 2 of H1N1 shot clinic goes smoother

Clinic ended with only 10 injectable doses left; county also still has FluMist vaccine available.

Nelva Gardeners and her daughter, Leslie, head to the back of the line at the Butler County H1N1 flu vaccine clinic Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Butler County Fairgrounds.

Contributed photo by Robert Leifheit Nelva Gardeners and her daughter, Leslie, head to the back of the line at the Butler County H1N1 flu vaccine clinic Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Butler County Fairgrounds.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Long lines at H1N1 clinic

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 2:03 AM Sunday, October 25, 2009

HAMILTON — With milder weather and no rain, people arrived early at the Butler County Fairgrounds on Saturday morning, Oct. 24, for the H1N1 flu vaccine clinic that officials said went much more smoothly than it did the day before.

Butler County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kent Hall said when he arrived at 7 a.m., some had arrived as early as 3 a.m. After what happened Friday, when thousands turned out, forcing the health department to shut down its clinic to new arrivals within an hour of opening, additional deputies and health department staffers were on hand to keep lines moving for the flu vaccine injections and nasal mists.

“I walked in and out in a heartbeat,” said Arlette Dian of Monroe. “I almost didn’t come after I heard what happened Friday, but I decided that I was going to try it (on Saturday).”

The mother of two sons said she wasn’t going to risk not coming. “I’m a firm believer in flu shots.”

Rick Lacy of Middletown brought his mother in for the vaccine and was in and out in about 15 minutes Saturday.

“I drove by on Friday, and it was packed,” he said.

In case there would be a long wait, Kathy Liest of Fairfield, pushing a stroller with another son in tow, bundled up her children and stowed an umbrella and lawn chair under the stroller. “We had a big case of flu outbreaks, and I want them (her sons) to be protected,” said Liest, a preschool teacher in the Sycamore school district.

Patricia Burg, health department director, said they started with about 6,000 vaccine doses when the clinic opened at 8 a.m. By the 5 p.m. closing time, Burg said they were down to 10 injectable doses but she was not sure of the number of the FluMist left. “We just had a tremendously large influx of people at opening time on Friday,” she said. “(Saturday), it was more of a steady flow.

“We’ve had the most overwhelmingly positive group of people we could ever hope for … they were very patient,” she said.

Burg said there were a lot of families with children, health care workers, and “a lot of pregnant women” who came to get the vaccine.

She said the health department will continue to give out the vaccines as it becomes available.

Saturday’s clinic started at 8 a.m., but just after 11 a.m., there was no one coming in the door. However, about a half-hour later, another wave of people arrived.

At mid-morning on Saturday, the wait was short. Burg said flow was steady throughout Saturday afternoon with about 100 to 150 people in line.

Danielle Cox of West Chester Twp. brought her four children to get the vaccine and said she was out “in no time” after filling out the paperwork.

Charles Hangbers of Hamilton, a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, said getting the vaccine “was a piece of cake.”

He said he wanted to get the vaccine because he didn’t want to get sick before he travelled to Washington, D.C., to participate in Veterans Day activities with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Hangbers said he will be part of a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, at Arlington National Cemetery.

His wife, Andrea, who is on oxygen after getting part of a lung removed in April, said she got the vaccine to protect her health and didn’t want to get sick around her grandchildren.

“I have a health condition and I can’t afford to get sick,” she said.

Rick Sedan, also of Hamilton, said he came by at about 7:30 a.m. and said the line of people waiting for the clinic to open was already past the grandstand. Sedan, who lives a few blocks from the fairgounds, said when he came back later in the morning, there was no wait.

Karen Acree of Hamilton, a self-described “germaphobic” wasn’t taking any chances — she was wearing a surgical mask and put gloves on to pick up a pen on the table in order to fill out her paperwork.

“I don’t want any flu,” she said. “There’s too much of it going around. I just don’t want the swine flu or any flu. I don’t want to get sick.”

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I'm glad that day 2 went well. My family and I always get a flu shot, every year and we never get sick with the flu. I'm not so worked up about this H1N1 flu but just the flu in general. Here is a funny swine flu graphic I'd like to share. http://typobounty.com/Funny/Swine-F...

msimon
10:50 PM, 10/27/2009

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what if we arent tier 1 can i still get a shot

perl
4:00 PM, 10/26/2009

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I am a first responder and I didn't know a thing about the Princeton Pike Church of God clinic, nor did anyone at my department or any other department around. Butler County may have listed this clinic on their website, but they did not notify any departments it was happening. Some people have better things to do than check the BCHD website daily for updates...

wait a minute
3:12 PM, 10/26/2009

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Remember that the death rate for H1N1 in healthy children is no greater than that of the normal flu. Since I doubt that you have protested parental decisions not to vaccinate for the flu in every year past, you are speaking out of fear and ignorance. We don't want to hear you crying when you or your children develop Guillain Barre within the next month, or cancer later in their lives do to another hasty vaccination. Ask how many doctors are having their children vaccinated... I am serious, ask.

Steve
1:19 PM, 10/26/2009

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I love all these people who are trying to suggest you shouldn't get vaccinated because look at how few people die from the regular flu... You all apparently forget that the reason the mortality rate of the seasonal flu is so low is because of public health campaigns to vaccinate the most vunerable.

Oh, and the Butler County Health department ran a clinic two weeks ago specifically for first responders. Almost everyone criticizing getting the vaccine have absolutely no clue.

Brian Hester
10:54 AM, 10/26/2009

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