WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Hundreds Turned Away for Swine Flu Shots

Hundreds Turned Away for Swine Flu Shots

Middlebury, Vermont - November 3, 2009

Hundreds of people lined up for an H1N1 flu shot Tuesday in Middlebury, but hundreds were turned away from the clinic because it ran out of vaccine.

It was the state's first clinic intended for the general public. Flu fears combined with a shortage of the swine flu shot led to long lines for a very limited amount of vaccine.

The Middlebury clinic only had 300 doses to give out-- 200 shots and 100 nasal sprays. People started lining up at 8 a.m. to get it. Doors were supposed to open at 4 p.m., but organizers decided to start the clinic an hour early to accommodate people who spent all day in line.

"I kind of half expected it yeah, that there would be a crowd," said John Hilferty of Waitsfield. "This is like the sinking of the Titanic except everyone wants to get on instead of off."

"If there is enough I will do it today, but I'd rather a child get the vaccination than I get it today so I'm going to ask them," said Simon Cameroff of Stowe.

Asked when more vaccine will be available to the general public, Larry Goetschius, the executive director of Addison County Home Health and Hospice said, "That will depend on the supply of the vaccine. And I am hopeful that that will happen in December."

This was the first of 37 clinics scheduled through January. It was intended for people at high risk for complications from H1N1. People in line were asked to fill out a form to determine if they were eligible for a shot. The target population includes pregnant women, parents and caregivers for infants, anyone 6 months to 24 year old, and anyone 25 to 64 with high risk health conditions.

Anyone who has a child who receives a vaccine should know that children 9 and under need to get a follow up shot or mist 4 weeks after their first vaccine, again this only applies to children not adults. There will be a clinic in four weeks at the American Legion in Middlebury so all of the children who received vaccines Tuesday can return to the same location, and should bring their card saying they already received the first round and they will have vaccines set aside for those returning.

The Vermont Health Department says to date the state has ordered 55,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine and received most of them. They hope to get a total of 350,000 doses but they don't know when it will all arrive. That will depend on when the production facilities can catch up with the demand.

Molly Smith - WCAX News