GREENSBORO — A line of people formed outside Elliott University Center at UNCG on Thursday morning, waiting for H1N1 flu vaccinations.
By 3 p.m. , the line had gone down to about a dozen people waiting at a time. By then, the shots were gone, and officials had started giving out the nasal spray version.
“I’m quite pleased at the way they’ve responded today,” said Tresa Saxton , the school director of student health services.
UNCG Chancellor Linda Brady sent an e-mail to students, staff and faculty Wednesday advising them of the vaccine’s availability for them and their families. The university received 2,500 doses of vaccine and plans to hold another clinic today and, if enough vaccine remains, on Saturday .
UNCG was one of about 20 providers in Guilford County to receive H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine this week.
The Guilford County Department of Health said it received 400 of the total 6,400 doses delivered to the county this week. That brings Guilford’s total to about 13,100 doses delivered since manufacturers began shipping the vaccine at the beginning of the month.
The vaccine continues to be in high demand, but low supply.
UNCG freshman Austin Smith, 18 , said fear brought him to the school’s clinic Thursday after he finished classes. He doesn’t want the flu to slow him down.
“I’m just afraid I’m going to get sick,” he said.
A dejected Ahmed Kayyali, 22 , got turned away. The UNCG senior said he has asthma, an underlying condition that prohibits him from getting the nasal spray version of the vaccine, which was all that was left when he arrived.
“I guess just wait,” he said about what he’ll do now.
He also said he’ll be checking the www.flu.gov Web site for local clinics on both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine.
UNCG had administered about 800 vaccines by 3 p.m., Saxton said.
“I doubt, seriously, that we’re going to make it to Saturday,” she said.
Rockingham County’s health department had received 200 doses earlier in the week and given out almost all by Wednesday afternoon, said the county’s health director, Glenn Martin .
Randolph County is out as well, officials said.
Alamance County’s health department has a clinic from 1 to 4 p.m. today on a first-come, first-served basis.
Meanwhile, the number of children out sick from Guilford County Schools continues to climb while the number of people going to Moses Cone Health System with flulike symptoms has dropped again.
More than 3,000 students have been out with fever and flulike symptoms since school started, officials said. That’s up from about 2,300 students the week before.
Moses Cone reports visits to its emergency and acute care centers have dropped from an average 184 per day to 171 per day.
Health officials won’t say if anyone in Guilford has died from flulike symptoms, citing the privacy protection of a federal health care law. But statewide, 31 people have died since Sept. 27, state health officials said Wednesday .
Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com
Here’s the status of both seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines at area public health departments:
Guilford Seasonal: Limited. Children age 6 months to 18 years. Call 845-7655 for appointment.
H1N1: None available at this time. Check for updates at www.guilfordhealth.org
Rockingham Seasonal: Limited. All ages available. First come, first served. Free for children; $29.75 for adults.
H1N1: None available at this time. Check for updates at www.co.rockingham.nc.us/publichealth/ or call 342-8141 .
Randolph Seasonal: No more available for this flu season.
H1N1: None available at this time. Check for updates at www.co.randolph.nc.us/public_health/ or call 318-6358.
Alamance Seasonal: Limited. Children 5 years old or younger and adults 65 and older; anyone with underlying health condition. Cost: Varies. Call 227-0101.
H1N1: Clinic from 1-4 p.m. today at Fairchild Community Center, 827 S. Graham Hopedale Church Road, Burlington. First come, first served. Nasal spray limited to children age 2-18 who are healthy with no chronic illnesses. Cost: Free. Call 570-4161 for more information or go to www.alamance-nc.com
H1N1 flu vaccine clinic: When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday Where: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1100 Curtis St., Greensboro Cost: $15 ; select health plans accepted More information: 852-3148
Other: Maxim Healthcare Services has 300 doses and is limiting them to high-risk groups.
More online: http://h1n1.findaflushot.com
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