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Wake County Story



H1N1 Clinics Get More Efficient

Credit: AP Online

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WAKE COUNTY, N.C. -

Just two weeks ago at an H1N1 vaccine clinic, Sheriff's deputies had to direct traffic around the public health center off Sunnybrook road and wait times were up to 3 hours.

At the county's latest clinic Saturday, it took less than 30 minutes.

"Actually it was pretty fast," Raleigh resident Yesenia Lopez said. "I thought it would be a long line or whatever with it being the H1N1 shot."

Lopez came to the county sponsored swine flu clinic to get her and her children vaccinated.

"I'm pregnant," she said. "So I've heard there's a lot of people needing the shot due to that."

Lopez and all three of her children were through the line and vaccinated in less than thirty minutes.

Wake county has held 12 H1N1 clinics and organizers said more clinics have helped them become more efficient.

In addition, officials said the supply of the vaccine is increasing.

"There has been a slow process coming out from the manufacturers," Wake County Community Health Director Sue Lynn Ledford said. "That is beginning to pick up."

The county has already vaccinated more than 20,000 people, but health officials still are reserving the vaccine for those in high risk groups like pregnant women and people 24-years-old or younger.

There've been 10 flu deaths in the past two weeks alone.

In North Carolina, 48 people have died from swine flu since the end of September.

"We are well beneath where we feel we should be to hit that priority group of children, pregnant women and the others that are on the list," Ledford said.

County officials said they will continue the clinics as long as they get the vaccine.

They are urging people to check with their primary doctor before coming to a clinic to see if they have the vaccine.

The county sent vaccine supplies to more than 270 private practice doctors.

Meanwhile, Lopez is just glad she was able to get the shot.

"It's very important to get up to date with all the shots and to get vaccinated for our sake and for the sake of our children," Lopez said.

 

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