More Than 3,500 Line Up For Flu Shots At Health Department

GREENVILLE -- Greenville County Health Department workers were kept busy all day Friday as people rushed to get flu shots from a drastically-reduced supply.

Officials said that as of noon, more than 1,800 shots had been administered inside the building and through a new drive-up line for those with problems moving around. By 4 p.m., 3,600 people received flu shots.

Officials said that people began lining up at about 6 a.m., two and a half hours before the clinic opened. The line stretched around the side of the building and through a parking lot. Police closed a lane of traffic to allow drive-up patients to line up for shots behind the building.

Workers walked through the lines, informing people how long the wait would be and handing out a sheet describing who was considered part of the high-risk groups that were eligible for the flu shots.

People in the drive-up line waited about 75 minutes to get their shots, while some standing in line waited more than two hours.

"If we could vaccinate all of the people who are at high risk, we can really prevent some of those hospitalizations and deaths and severe illnesses from the flu," Dr. Stephanie Brundage said.

Department of Health and Environmental Control officials said they are collecting information about which health care providers have vaccine and which do not. Jesse Greene, director of DHEC's Immunization Division, said once it gets that information, the agency may redistribute vaccine as needed.

Greene also said all of the agency's available vaccine has been distributed for use. Previously, officials said that the state had 128,000 doses of vaccine available from an order of 205,000 doses.

Director of Disease Control Dr. Jerry Gibson pointed out that the flu probably won't arrive in South Carolina until late November or early December.

"We have time to prepare," he said.

Gibson noted that there are an estimated 1.3 million people in South Carolina who are considered part of the high-risk group, and DHEC has always relied upon private health care providers to help cover the majority of that group.

WYFF News 4's Myra Ruiz will have the latest on this story at 5 and 6 p.m.

Previous Stories:

• October 7, 2004: Flu Vaccine Clinics Draw Crowds; Some Postponed Due To Shortage
• October 7, 2004: Need To Find A Flu Clinic? Click Here!
• October 6, 2004: County Health Clinics To Offer Flu Vaccines On Priority Basis
• October 6, 2004: DHEC: Impact From Flu Vaccine Shortage Unknown