ELYRIA — Some people were turned away because they did not meet eligibility requirements, but nearly 1,100 people received H1N1 flu vaccines Thursday at an Elyria Health District flu clinic at Midway Mall.

At times, the line was lengthy, but Cindi Ogden of Avon was pleasantly surprised with how quickly it moved along after lunchtime.

“I’m a nurse and this is extremely organized — I’m very impressed with it,” said Ogden. “We waited in Avon for several hours and they ran out.”

Ogden, who had a 40-minute wait, urged her 46-year-old son with asthma to get one of the free shots as well.

Listen to Health Commissioner Kathy Boylan talk about the clinic:

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By about 3 p.m. there was no wait at all when Natalie and Michael Burke of Elyria arrived with their children Pearl, 4, Michael Francis, 6, and Jayda, 2.

The H1N1 vaccines were distributed over an eight-hour period and Elyria Health Commissioner Kathryn Boylan expressed gratitude for the mall for allowing the crowds to gather away from the cold.

“Everybody was cooperative, and it was a very positive experience,” Boylan said.

She said the mall liked it as well because many people stayed to shop.

The clinic opened at 10 a.m. and by 9:45 a.m., people in line had reserved all 102 doses of seasonal flu vaccine, which cost $15.

Additional flu vaccines are expected every Tuesday, Boylan said.

The initial priority groups for H1N1 are pregnant women, persons who live with or care for infants younger than six months, healthcare workers and emergency services that provide direct patient care; children six months and up; young people up to 24 years old and persons ages 25 to 64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Examples of persons with chronic illnesses are those with asthma or bronchitis, cancer, multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy, Boylan said.

Those 65 and older are not among the target groups for the initial available vaccines because that population has been relatively free of H1NI, Boylan said.

Since Oct. 15, the health department has held six H1N1 flu clinics: four open to the public, one for students at Lorain County Community College and one for people who work in emergency medical services.

More Elyria Health District clinics

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Elyria City Hall (the seasonal flu vaccine will not be available).
• 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Open Door cafeteria, 8287 West Ridge Road.
• 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Jude Church’s Carribine Hall, 590 Poplar St.
• 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at Second Baptist Church, 427 16th St.
• 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Elyria City Schools Administration Building, 42101 Griswold Road.

For more information, call the flu hotline at 284-1567 or visit www.elyriahealth.com.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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