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Hundreds arrive for swine flu nasal spray

Christen Rednour holds her 2-year-old son Micah as Penny Bolger, a nurse with the Butler County Health Department, administers the H1N1 mist vaccine Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Princeton Pike Church of God.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Christen Rednour holds her 2-year-old son Micah as Penny Bolger, a nurse with the Butler County Health Department, administers the H1N1 mist vaccine Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Princeton Pike Church of God.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Long lines at H1N1 clinic

By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer Updated 7:23 AM Friday, November 6, 2009

LIBERTY TWP. — About 400 people lined up Thursday, Nov. 5, during the first hour of the Butler County Health Department’s free H1N1 nasal mist vaccine clinic.

The FluMist nasal spray clinic was held from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Princeton Pike Church of God, but many lined up much earlier for the Butler County Health Department’s third public H1N1 vaccine clinic.

First in line was Everett McFarland, 69, of Ross Twp. who began waiting as early as 10:30 a.m.

“I just wanted to make sure my grandkids got in," said McFarland, who was with his grandchildren ages 2 and 5. “I just want to do what I can do keep them well.”

McFarland’s daughter, Amy Vanderbilt, 37 of Fairfield, who was at the clinic on Thursday, said she had hoped to get vaccinated last month at the fairgrounds, but said she left after seeing the crowd.

The county’s first public clinic Oct. 23 at the fairgrounds drew between 5,000 and 6,000 people. Officials were forced one point to close the gates to new arrivals for several hours due to lack of parking and a fear of running out of the vaccine.

Beth McGuire, a nurse at a family practice in Franklin, was inoculated three weeks ago, but stood in line with hundreds of others on Thursday to make sure her children received the vaccine.

“It’s very important because we don’t have immunity from this,” she said. “It’s a safe vaccine. We’ve had the flu vaccine for 15 years and it’s made by the same manufacturer. There’s no reason not to (get it). We have children dying.”

Kathleen Shearer, 58, of West Chester Twp. arrived at the clinic at about 4 p.m. with her 15-year-old son Richard, and waited about an hour for the vaccine. Although Richard said he was not concerned about the H1N1 virus, his mother said she wanted to make sure he was vaccinated to protect her daughter who is pregnant.

“I’ve been very concerned. There are just too many healthy pregnant women who are getting it and dying," she said.

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