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Big turnout for swine-flu vaccine in Snohomish County
Sandi Doughton Seattle Times science reporter
Officials at Stevens Hospital expected a crowd for Saturday's swine-flu vaccine clinic.
They just didn't expect people to start lining up at 4 a.m., said pharmacy director Valorie Wilkins.
Within 90 minutes of opening, the Edmonds hospital had dispensed nearly 1,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, she said. More than 3,000 people were still waiting in a line that snaked nearly a quarter of a mile through parking lots and sidewalks.
"It's not like Disneyland," said James Schalla, who brought his 2-year-old daughter to be immunized. "There's nothing fun at the end."
Facing a four-hour wait, Schalla and his wife set up a folding chair and planned to tag-team the line.
Volunteers passed out animal crackers and other treats to distract the hundreds of children waiting their turn.
The scenes were similar at all 10 of the free H1N1 flu clinics across Snohomish County Saturday, said Chris Badger, spokesperson for the "unified command" set up by the county health department and other agencies to direct traffic, coordinate volunteers and keep the lines moving.
At each site, staff kept track of the vaccine supply and decided when to turn folks away.
"We think they were successful in making sure no one was waiting in line needlessly," Badger said.
The clinics dispensed all 28,000 doses available.
Saturday's heavy turnout was driven largely by concern over a national shortage of vaccine because of production delays, said Wilkins, of Stevens Hospital.
"I think that's where most of the anxiety is coming from."
King County, which held no clinics this weekend, has received only enough vaccine for 10 percent of those considered at highest risk for the disease. That includes pregnant women, people between 6 months and 24 years of age, and those with underlying health problems.
Thanh Dang and her two youngsters were among those who were turned away.
"I guess I'll have to see if there's anyplace else to go," she said. "But if this place is packed, I have to believe the other places probably are, too."
Though aimed at Snohomish County residents, the clinics adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on residence.
That was welcome news to mother and daughter Edith and Aimee Villarosa, who drove from Kirkland. Both women are also health-care workers and asthma sufferers. Aimee
Villarosa was especially anxious to get vaccinated before she starts a nursing internship at an Eastside emergency room in two weeks.
"I'll be working with all kinds of patients," she said.
The last person in line was Sandy Barnard.
"I don't know whether to feel happy or guilty," said the Shoreline woman, who was holding a place for her 14-year-old, asthmatic son.
"He's still asleep," she said with a laugh.
The boy isn't eager to get the vaccine, but mom insists.
"When you have a kid with asthma, it puts you in a different frame of mind," Barnard said. "I worry about these things."
Additional vaccine will arrive this week, but much of that will be reserved for health-care workers. Officials say they don't know when the next public clinics will be scheduled.
Sandi Doughton: 206-464-2491 or sdoughton@seattletimes.com