By Katie Farrell Lovett
NEWBURYPORT — After waiting for months to receive the H1N1 vaccine, about 700 people came to Newburyport City Hall yesterday to be vaccinated, forming a line that stretched around the City Hall auditorium, down the stairs and out the door.
Amesbury Emergency Management volunteer Lynne McDougall said she arrived about 8:15 a.m. to get ready for the 9 a.m. start. Already, about five people were waiting in the auditorium, she said.
Incidence of the flu spiked in October and November, sending hundreds of kids home sick from school around the area. But delays in securing the vaccine meant most people remained vulnerable until now, though the rate of flu has greatly decreased.
Yesterday's clinic was the first of nine regional clinics that will be held for residents of Amesbury, Newburyport and Salisbury. Another clinic will be held today at the Newburyport police station from 6 to 8 p.m.
The state reported an increase in flu-like illness last week as the height of flu season begins, and a third wave of the H1N1 flu is expected, health director Jack Morris said, stressing that is "absolutely not" too late to get a vaccine.
"It never hurts to build an immunity to it," Morris said.
Amesbury EMT Dave Mather worked alongside three nurses to distribute the seasonal flu vaccines and the H1N1 flu vaccine. Mather said he was somewhat surprised by the turnout.
"We thought it would be a little quieter," he said.
The vaccines were distributed as quickly as possible, meaning the average wait time was a half hour to 40 minutes, Mather said.
As more vaccines have arrived, this series of free flu clinics is open to the general public. Previous flu clinics were only geared to certain target groups, such as children, caregivers of children or pregnant women.
Yesterday's clinic drew a range of ages, as citizens from Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury could attend. Upcoming clinics will be held in Salisbury and Amesbury as well.
"Anybody that gets in line is getting a vaccine," Morris said.
While the flu clinics distribute both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine, Morris said about 95 percent of people received the H1N1 vaccine.
According to the state Department of Public Health, H1N1 flu is caused by a new virus that was first recognized in April 2009. The H1N1 flu symptoms are very similar to seasonal flu symptoms. Most common are fever, cough and sore throat. They can also include body aches, headache, chills, runny nose and feeling very tired, diarrhea and vomiting, according to DPH. Symptoms last from a few days to more than a week.
Upcoming Flu Clinics:
Thursday, Jan. 14
6-8 p.m., Newburyport Police Station, 4 Green St., Newburyport
Saturday, Jan. 16
9 a.m.-noon, Salisbury Town Hall, 5 Beach Road, Salisbury
Wednesday, Jan. 20
9 a.m.-11 a.m., Salisbury Town Hall, 5 Beach Road Salisbury
Thursday, Jan. 21
6-8 p.m., Amesbury Fire Station, 17 School St., Amesbury
Saturday, Jan. 23
9 a.m.- noon, Newburyport City Hall, 60 Pleasant St., Newburyport
Wednesday, Jan. 27
9-11 a.m., Amesbury Fire Station, 17 School St., Amesbury
Saturday, Jan. 30
9 a.m.- noon, Amesbury Elementary School, 20 South Hampton Road, Amesbury
Thursday, Feb. 4
6-8 p.m., Salisbury Town Hall, 5 Beach Road, Salisbury
