DuPage County begins administering H1N1 flu shots
It may be one of the few times in medical history where people were smiling while getting a shot.
The first doses of the H1N1 flu shot available in DuPage were administered Thursday to the grateful masses.
The same couldn't be said for the flu shot's nasal mist counterpart. The cacophony of bawling children emanating from the basement of the county health department's headquarters in Wheaton was caused by what the youngsters described as an "icky" blast up their snouts. The mist made children nostalgic for shots.
"I like injection better," sulked 5-year-old Vikrant Gandotra of Carol Stream. "I don't like the mist."
Most children received the mist instead of the shot.
The DuPage County Health Department is careful with its initial supply of 3,000 doses of the flu shot; officials are trying to give it to those with underlying medical conditions who shouldn't get the mist vaccination. People with diseases that cause of weakening of organs, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, should get the shot. That's about 30 percent of the total population of the county, health department officials said.
Pregnant women should also get the shot, and that's why pregnant Naperville mom Maggie Hayes got the shot, while her 2-year-old son Zach got the mist.
"I thought he'd be freaked out a little and he was, but he recovered quickly," she said. "I talked to our doctors about the mist for him and I'm putting my faith in their knowledge."
The health department was inundated with requests for appointments for the shot as soon as they announced they were getting doses earlier this week. They soon had to modify their procedures because of the demand and short supply. They started pushing the mist vaccination instead, but that didn't slow the requests for appointments.
"Even with just the mist available we've got 40 people queued on the phone line all night long," said Maureen McHugh, health department director. "Once they see people getting mist you'll see confidence in the community growing."
About 400 residents received vaccinations Thursday, McHugh said. The health department has enough of the shot and mist to last through Nov. 8, but they are expecting more doses soon. To learn more about the county's clinic locations and scheduling vaccination appointments call (866) 311-1123.
The health department is scheduling the immunizations in order to keep lines from forming at the three clinic sites, McHugh explained.
"I do not want people sleeping in the parking lot," she said.
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