H1N1 Clinic in Linn County Short of Patients

By Dave Franzman

Nehemiah Sturges, 3, of Cedar Rapids, gets the H1N1 flu nasal mist vaccine in the expo center at Hawkeye Downs this morning, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. More than 200 people lined up before the doors opened at 9 a.m. Some arrived more than two hours in advance. (Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)

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By Nicole Agee

Story Created: Nov 6, 2009 at 8:27 AM CST

Story Updated: Nov 6, 2009 at 5:38 PM CST

Cedar Rapids – Linn County’s first mass vaccination clinic for the H1N1 flu started off at 9:00 Friday morning at Hawkeye Downs. But oddly enough, after a big initial rush, the lines totally disappeared.

Linn County health care workers say people may have assumed if that didn’t get in line early, they wouldn’t get a vaccination.

The clinic in Cedar Rapids started out with 1545 doses of a live vaccine and when they closed at 2:00, there were still 850 doses remaining.

There was a big crowd initially at the clinic before the doors opened at 9:00 a.m. Friday. In fact, the first people in line arrived at 6:30 a.m. But inside things moved quickly.

This public clinic is offering only the H1N1 vaccine in nasal spray form. That means pregnant women and a few others in the high risk group can’t use this particular vaccine.

Linn County health officials say mass clinics offering injections should start soon. The at risk groups for H1N1 vaccination include health care workers who have direct contact with patients, adults caring for infants at home and all children between the ages of 2-18.

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