County Office building yeilds line around block for H1N1 vaccination

UTICA, November 11, 2009 -- A line of approximately 500 people wound down Park Avenue and led up to the entrance of the Oneida County office building Wednesday morning where H1N1 vaccinations were being given.

It was 48 degrees and mothers held their babies swaddled in layers of fleece and blankets, fathers pushed carriages forward as the line inched slowly up. More and more people walked to the end of the line in hopes of possibly receiving the vaccination.

One of those parents was Erica Brindisi, who patiently stood toward the end of the line with her 2-year-old, Anthony. At about 10:30 a.m., she said she'd been standing in line at leats 45 minutes.

"It's not available at our doctor's office, so we want to make sure we're protected," she said of the swine flu vaccination.

Further up the line, James Paul stood with his family in hopes of getting everyone else a vaccination. He'd been in line about an hour and a half.

"It's not that I don't want the shot, but I don't qualify for it -- I'm healthy and out of the age range," he said.  "Our family is just concerned about catching the H1N1 virus. We've all gotten our (seasonal) flu shots, but this is something different."

Mike and Joann Tomassetti had been in line since 9:30 a.m. Joann, wheelchair-bound as a result of muscular dystrophy, has "a compromised immune system," her husband said.

"She should be able to get a shot," Mike Tomassetti said.

With them in line were their grandchildren, also planning on getting immunizations. Joann wrapped herself in a blanket as they waited about half-way down the line. She shuddered.

"The sun's out but it's still cold," she exclaimed, adding that she hoped there were still vaccinations by the time they reached the clinic.

Close to the entrance but not close enough, Chekechea Green stood with four of her small children, ranging in ages 1-6. At home, a three-month-old baby boy was too young to be immunized.

"We've been here since 9:15," Green said, pointing to her children. "They've been so good -- hopefully, we can get in and get out."

Green said she works with the public at a local fast food restaurant; and hoped she too could be vaccinated.

"I'm especially going to try because I still have a baby at home," she said.

Since the pandemic began in April, two people in Oneida County have died as a result of complications from swine flu. With numbers that low, the Oneida County Department of Health warned residents that almost any flu sympoms out this season are H1N1.

In October, Cathe Bullwinkle, quality improvement coordinator with the Oneida County Health Department, said while swine flu statistics show a low number of reported cases in Oneida County, it's because the virus is no longer being tested for in labs.

"It's not recommended," Bullwinkle explained. "If they do a normal flu test it will come back either positive for flu or negative. But there's almost no seasonal influenza out there so if they have flu-like symptoms it is likely H1N1."

Ken Fanelli of the Oneida County Health Department said about 600 vaccinations were administered Wednesday at the clinic, including adult doses and children's doses.

"We had adequate supplies for the vaccine for everyone who qualified," he said. "We only gave it to people in the specified priority groups. Eventually everyone is ecouraged to get the shot."

High-risk individuals were being considered first and foremost in distribution of the H1N1 vaccine. That group  includes:

• Anyone from infant to 24 years old (babies under 6 months old cannot get the shot, but all their caregivers should)
• Aged 25-64 who have underlying medical conditions
• Pregnant women
• Seniors