ST. CHARLES, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
The battle against the H1N1 virus continued in the St. Louis area this weekend. St. Charles County's fight against the Swine Flu came without a major battle Saturday. At the first H1N1 immunization clinic for the general public, the lines were as painless as the shots.
"Within 20 seconds I'd say I had my shot," says Debbie Nielsen, a physical therapist.
"It's orderly, it's professional, people don't have to wait in line, which everybody hates to do," says
Bruce Megenhardt, Director of Operations for Sara Services, the private low cost healthcare provider that operated Saturday's clinic. For them, this is routine.
"We're what they call a mass immunizer," he explains. "We're a mobile outfit. We do flu shots in four states."
They had 1,500 vaccines ready to give out, and by noon they had already administered more than 650. One of those receiving the shot was Amanda Walker, who is eight months pregnant.
"I'm due in three and a half weeks," she says. "I did think it's very important, not just for me but when the baby is born so for me, it wasn't even a question about it."
The ease of the clinic came with a cost: fifteen dollars a shot. But to walk and out the door in seconds, with peace of mind, is priceless.
The clinic made plans to give out 500 immunizations; then late in the week the county secured an extra 1,000 doses. Any leftover vaccine will be stored until another clinic is scheduled.
"Within 20 seconds I'd say I had my shot," says Debbie Nielsen, a physical therapist.
"It's orderly, it's professional, people don't have to wait in line, which everybody hates to do," says
Bruce Megenhardt, Director of Operations for Sara Services, the private low cost healthcare provider that operated Saturday's clinic. For them, this is routine.
"We're what they call a mass immunizer," he explains. "We're a mobile outfit. We do flu shots in four states."
They had 1,500 vaccines ready to give out, and by noon they had already administered more than 650. One of those receiving the shot was Amanda Walker, who is eight months pregnant.
"I'm due in three and a half weeks," she says. "I did think it's very important, not just for me but when the baby is born so for me, it wasn't even a question about it."
The ease of the clinic came with a cost: fifteen dollars a shot. But to walk and out the door in seconds, with peace of mind, is priceless.
The clinic made plans to give out 500 immunizations; then late in the week the county secured an extra 1,000 doses. Any leftover vaccine will be stored until another clinic is scheduled.
