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Longest lines yet at Pima County H1N1 vaccination clinic

By Barbara Grijalva - email

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - Between the shots and the nasal mist, Pima County had more than 6,000 vaccines to give out.

And, if the supplies hold up, the Pima County Health Department will have another clinic Thursday, November 5, from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the ballpark.

People started lining up at eight o'clock Tuesday morning for a flu vaccination clinic that didn't open until 1:00 p.m.

In no time, the line stretched from inside the ballpark, all the way out to Ajo Way.

"I got here at 8 o'clock this morning because of these guys right here. Gotta make sure they're vaccinated," said Shad Warren who was first in line to have his two sons vaccinated.

A lot of parents in line. Waiting in the heat. Doing it for the children.

Little Aaliya Figueroa explained it.

"Because I supposed to get a shot for the swine flu to go away," she said.

The line even surprised the Pima County Health Care workers at the clinic, but in a good way.

"I'm happy that the public has again responded to a public health issue that needs to be addressed," said Pima County Health Department Director of Nursing Isela Luna.

The usual people are being allowed to get the injectable vaccine.

Pregnant women...

"Just so I'm safe and my baby's safe," said Noelle Scuola whose baby is due in January.

And the vaccine is for young children, from six months to two years old. 

Dr. Kristie Koehler held her baby boy as he got his shot.

"I'm a pediatrician in town so I'm exposed to the flu all the time. So I figured he needed to get vaccinated," she said.

People six months to age 24, health care workers under 50, and people under 50 who take care of an infant under 6 months old, still are the only ones able to get the free vaccine from the county.

Pima County is expecting nearly 550,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine, enough for everyone who wants it.

But vaccine suppliers still are slow getting the vaccine out.

The state is telling Arizona counties the shipments should be more consistent next week.

"That means that whatever we ordered supposedly we should get. But we'll see," said Luna. 

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