St. Charles East healthy; North mobbed for vaccines

It was a double-barreled tribute Monday to healthy children in Kane County.

As the sun rose, healthy students flooded back into St. Charles East High School after a rash of illnesses last week.

Then as the sun set, parents waited more than two hours in line at St. Charles North High School for the first 4,000 H1N1 flu vaccinations offered to the public in Kane County. And more got priority appointments for the next shipment of vaccinations.

St. Charles East High School still recorded a total of 117 students out sick Monday morning. That's fairly average for a school of 2,200 students during flu season. Principal Robert Miller said the early signs of the day pointed to everything returning to normal after a week when nearly 1,000 students called in sick.

"It was good to see the hallways crowded," Miller said. "That's a good sign."

Miller said parents accepted the additional home burdens of a closed school without much grief. Some parents even donated materials to help prevent another illness outbreak. Cases of hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are now popular items in the building.

"I have not been inundated with a lot of phone calls or e-mails saying that we are afraid of having our son or daughter return to St. Charles East High School," Miller said. "They thought it was the best decision to close the school last week based on the high percentage of students being out."

The final results of an investigation into what illness the majority of students suffered are expected on Wednesday. Early results pointed to an affliction other than the H1N1 virus as the main culprit.

That didn't stop parents from throughout Kane County from mobbing St. Charles North High School when the final bell rang.

A total crowd count wasn't available, but the ring of people that surrounded the school and the line of cars a couple miles down Route 31 in front of the building pointed to more people wanting a vaccination than the 4,000 doses that waited inside.

Starting at the 4,001st person in line, everyone received a makeup appointment that gives them priority status for the next shipment of H1N1 vaccines. The Kane County Health Department hopes to receive that second shipment as soon as later this week.

Debby Peterson, a flight attendant from St. Charles, brought an umbrella and stool to comfort her while she waited in a drizzle that didn't seem to deter anyone who had been waiting for the H1N1 vaccine to arrive. Peterson brought a note from her doctor qualifying her for the first round of doses.

Health department officials said they would operate on the honor system rather than ask for such notes. Peterson said a long wait in line would not deter her.

"I'm just happy it's available," Peterson said. "I'm happy that the government cares enough to do it. I see other countries where health care is not available. If I have to sit here until 8 o'clock, I will. It's worth my health to do it."

A very pregnant Janine Deasy, from Batavia, stood at the very back of the line. She came with an umbrella, a stroller and two young children to make sure her family would be safe from the H1N1 virus.

"I had an idea it would probably be this crazy," she said with a smile. "I brought snacks, so I'm prepared. Hopefully I don't deliver in line."

Those who made it through the line said it was worth the wait to feel secure.

Tanya Szatkowski, from Wayne, showed up more than an hour before the vaccinations even began just to get in line. She still ended up pushing a stroller with her daughter for nearly three hours.

"She's around other little kids all the time," Szatkowski said, pointing to her daughter. "I'd rather be safe than sorry."