Published: October 29, 2009 10:30 pm      

Hundreds take advantage of H1N1 clinic

Another one will be held Sunday

Hundreds of parents and children lined up outside the Floyd County Health Department Thursday afternoon to get protected against the H1N1, or swine flu, creating a long line tracing the sidewalk alongside the building.

The heath department opened up its doors for those 6 months to 5 years old to get the free vaccine against the H1N1 as part of the department’s second public clinic. The clinic was set to start at 4 p.m., but people started lining up at 11:30 a.m. The clinic opened up at 3:15 p.m. to get a head start before closing at 9 p.m.

Katrina Tanner, of Georgetown, was one of those waiting in line. With dozens of people ahead of her, the wait looked long for her and her 2 1/2-year-old daughter Haylyn.

“She keeps saying she needs to go to the bathroom, but I just tell her you have to hold it, I’m sorry!” Tanner said. “Her doctor isn’t getting any of the vaccines, so I can’t go there and get it, so I figured this was my only chance.”

Tanner said she decided earlier that morning to allow her daughter to get the vaccination.

“I’m scared. She was sick last year and I don’t want her to get sick this year,” she said.

Taylor Phelps, of New Albany, did her homework before bringing her 4-year-old daughter, Aiden, for the vaccination.

“I researched a little bit first and I called the hotline and that kind of stuff,” Phelps said.

Phelps said she’s been holding off on signing her daughter up for gymnastics, due to the possibility of getting sick. As a reward for getting the shot, Aiden is getting signed up.

Aiden said she didn’t mind going to the health department.

“[I’m here] to take a shot so I don’t get the germs,” she said.

For Desireé Coy, of Georgetown, the decision was easy to take her two little ones.

“I don’t want them getting sick and I love my babies and their doctor recommended it and I trust her fully,” she said.

Charlotte Bass, administrator for the health department, managed the crowd, letting in only the amount of people who could safely fit in the office during the clinic.

“I think [the turnout is] good. Floyd County has concerned parents who are trying to do the right thing and get their children vaccinated,” Bass said.

Bass said 60 people were lined up by 1 p.m., hours before the clinic opened. However, she said the line moved quickly, due to having nine nurses giving the injectable vaccinations.

The health department is having a third public clinic on Sunday for those 6 months to 18 years old. That clinic is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Floyd County 4-H Fairgrounds on Green Valley Road, in New Albany. There is no cost for the vaccine.