Hundreds get H1N1 vaccine Friday

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John M. Steiner / The Sun Area residents wait in folding chairs to fill out the paperwork needed to receive an H1N1 vaccination at a Friday clinic at Trinity Lutheran Church put on by Central Valley Health District.

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People of all ages from Jamestown and surrounding communities showed up in throngs Friday for their free dose of the H1N1 vaccination at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Central Valley Health District had more than 1,000 doses of vaccine on hand and 867 were distributed be-tween 10 and 4:30 p.m., said Robin Iszler, administrator at CVHD.

The demand was so great that CVHD shut down its office around 1 p.m. so the clinic was adequately staffed, Iszler said.

“We had to call in reinforcements,” she said.

Iszler said the staff was prepared and able to serve every waiting person.

“We were here before so we knew this time we had to wait,” said Jean Carpenter, Jamestown.

Carpenter and her husband, Maynard, showed up at 9 a.m. and left because the clinic wasn’t open. When they returned around noon they were at the end of a line that one person said took more than 30 minutes to get through.

Iszler said she knew there’d be demand for the vaccine but had no idea what to expect.

Ray Neupel, a cattle farmer from Medina, waited about 40 minutes before he got his vaccination.

“This flu is nothing to monkey around with, it’s a deadly bugger if you get it,” Neupel said.

Dusty and Sheena Neys, Jamestown, were concerned for the health of their 17-month-old daughter Jaelyn, and used a lunch break to get to the clinic.

“It’s just unbelievably long,” Dusty Neys said of the line.

During the clinic, visitors entered through the north side door, waited in one line which led to two rows of 15 chairs. People in each row of chairs took turns entering the main room where three tables allowed space for filling out paperwork. People then went from the three tables to one of four stations were the vaccines were administered. A nurse and an assistant staffed each station.

Glenice Kastet, Ypsilanti, N.D., said she was fine with the wait.

“It’s not that bad,” Kastet said.

She said she was impressed with the turnout, even if it meant waiting in line.

“I think it’s fantastic that everybody is concerned for their health,” Kastet said.

Iszler saw children come in for their second dosage, and the elderly and young parents all in line to get vaccinated.

Both syringes and FluMist were used during Friday’s clinic.

“It’s a very good feeling that we were able to provide these shots to the community,” Iszler said.

As of Dec. 15 there were 18 reported cases of H1N1 in Stutsman County and 216 reported cases on an unspecified Influenza, according to the North Dakota Department of Health.

Iszler said the vaccine is safe and she expects another wave of H1N1 to hit in the future.

“It’s important to get it soon to help yourself, your family and your community,” she said.

Those unable to attend Friday’s clinic may make an appointment for a free vaccination by calling CVHD at 252-8130.

Iszler is planning another free clinic sometime after the new year.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, swine, flue, h1n1, vaccination, cvhd