Nov 14, 2009 5:54 pm US/Central
H1N1 Vaccinations Lines Ease, But Some Still Upset
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Cook County's Public Health Department distributed H1N1 vaccinations Saturday at four suburban locations.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley found that while the mob scenes that developed at other clinics were avoided, some were still upset about the process.
It looked like the beginning of more flu shot clinic chaos -- a line around the block at a Cook County H1N1 clinic in Cicero. Michelle Busse and her baby arrived at 4 a.m., third in line.
"I'm here for my son and his doctor didn't have any the swine flu shots and they didn't know when they were going to get any," said Busse.
"I live in River Forest and I had to drive all the way here to get a flu shot because in my neighborhood it's not available," said Shiewi Cassidy, also a mother.
But when the doors opened at 8 a.m., there was no mad rush. Health workers handed out numbers, matched with appointment times for the 400 vaccinations available. Those with appointments later in the day could come back, minimizing wasted time.
"It was difficult to get at the doctors' office, so I think it was a good idea they were doing these little setups all over town, all over the city," Busse said.
But Maria Nedvar felt cheated.
"My mom was in the hospital for heart disease, for kidney disease. And she was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, but she's not eligible? And we've been here since 3 in the morning," Medvar complained to the clinic's staff.
County health workers explained that, under guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, her mother was above the age limit for those at highest risk.
"Because the supply is limited, we have to make sure that people fit the criteria so we can vaccinate as many people as possible," said Denise Gilbert of the Cook County Public Health Department.
Numbers released by the CDC earlier this week confirm that the H1N1 flu targets youth. The outbreak has killed 3,900 nationwide, including 540 children.
At the county clinic in Robbins, the process ran just as smoothly. Adalissa Boukari and her family left feeling more at ease about resisting the epidemic.
"We feel much more secured now. We feel very, very secure," Boukari said.
Cook County distributed at least 1,600 vaccinations Saturday at four sites: Cicero, Robbins, Ford Heights and Palatine. Three more dates for Saturday clinics are scheduled. The next is November 21.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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