Hundreds show up for H1N1 inoculation

Alan Hogan of Sylvania receives an H1N1 vaccination from Mary Green, a licensed practical nurse from Wauseon. The clinic yesterday at Maumee's Soccer Centre was the first at which the vaccine was offered to anyone in Lucas County not considered high risk for swine flu.

Eric and Audrey Christiansen aren't worried about getting H1N1 influenza.

But the Holland couple, who are in their 70s, decided to get H1N1 vaccinations Monday as part of their overall routine to prevent illness during the flu season.

"Just as a precaution," Mrs. Christiansen said. "We get our regular flu shots."

The Christiansens were among more than 1,000 people who are not in high-risk categories for the so-called swine flu who were able to get inoculated yesterday during Toledo-Lucas County's first open H1N1 clinic at the Soccer Centre in Maumee. Open clinics for anyone who wants H1N1 vaccines are being held by various local health departments, including from

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at United Auto Workers Local 14, 5422 Jackman Road, Toledo.

Never were more than 60 people in line at once for H1N1 vaccines yesterday at the Soccer Center, where the health department had 8,000 doses ready and the ability to inoculate 24 people at a time, said Larry Vasko, Toledo-Lucas County deputy health commissioner.

"We're very pleased with the turnout," Mr. Vasko said. "We can handle more, but we're very pleased."

Those in high-risk categories still can get inoculated at the open clinics, including pregnant women, children age 6 months to 24 years, those caring for children younger than 6 months, and people age 25 to 64 with chronic conditions. But most of the people who turned out for yesterday's clinic were older than 65 or healthy people in their 40s and 50s, all of whom will help build up the community's "herd immunity" to ward off widespread H1N1, Mr. Vasko said.

Patrick Kramer, 41, of Toledo said he got the H1N1 vaccine both to protect his family - including his 12-year-old daughter, Hannah - and because he comes in contact with a lot of people as maintenance manager at the Toledo Zoo.

"I wanted to make sure I didn't get sick so I could take care of everyone else," he said after getting the vaccine on his lunch break.

Alan Hogan, 71, of Sylvania said he got his seasonal flu shot more than two months ago and has been waiting for the H1N1 vaccine to become available to the general public. He is not worried about getting H1N1, but his wife, Barbara, advised him to get vaccinated as a precaution, he said.

"My wife is a nurse, and you do all the right things," said Mr. Hogan, who had a bad case of the flu in the 1970s.

Mr. Vasko, the deputy health commissioner, said almost 200 doctors' offices in Lucas County have H1N1 vaccine doses. Some employers also have doses for their workers, and volunteers are helping administer the vaccine to Toledo police and others, he said.

Fulton and Ottawa county health departments also are holding open H1N1 clinics at their offices today, but appointments must be made.

The number for the Fulton County Health Department, which also is holding an appointment-only H1N1 clinic tomorrow, Dec. 22, and Dec. 29, is 419-337-0915. Appointments for the Ottawa County Health Department's clinic from 5 to 7 p.m. today can be made by calling 419-734-6800, and slots also can be secured for open clinics from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday; 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 22, and 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 30.

Elsewhere in the region, the Monroe County Health Department has slated two open H1N1 vaccination clinics at the Monroe Bank and Trust Expo Building at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, 3775 South Custer Road, Monroe. One clinic is from 1 to 7 p.m. tomorrow, and the second is from

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Sandusky County Health Department is holding an open H1N1 clinic from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Flower Building at the county fairgrounds.

The Wood County Health Department has scheduled three open H1N1 clinics at Woodland Mall in the former Steve & Barry's: from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday;

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 29, and

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 9.

Other Toledo-Lucas County Health Department open H1N1 clinics include:

•10 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Stranahan Great Hall, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo.

•11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at Juvenile Detention Center, 1801 Spielbusch Ave., Toledo.

•11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Sylvania United Church of Christ, 7240 Erie St., Sylvania.

•Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Whitmer High School, 5601 Clegg Drive, Toledo.

•11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at University of Toledo Scott Park Campus, Toledo.

•11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Springfield Township Hall, 7616 Angola Road, Holland.

•11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 22, Lourdes College's Franciscan Center, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania.

On Dec. 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, and 31, open H1N1 clinics will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at both locations of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, downtown Toledo at 635 North Erie St. and in western Lucas County at 330 Oak Terrace Blvd., Springfield Township. Open clinics will continue at both health department sites from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Jan. 4 to 8.

Contact Julie M. McKinnon at:

jmckinnon@theblade.com

or 419-724-6087.