Sussex H1N1 clinic greeted by long line
Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 12:04 AM AT
CBC News
Southwestern New Brunswick had its first mass vaccination clinic for H1N1 on Thursday after health officials postponed dozens of clinics in the province's schools.
By 9 a.m., one hour after the Sussex clinic opened, more than 400 people stood outside the Royal Canadian Legion and down the block.
"I'm just crossing my fingers that we got here early enough," Gail Carpenter said. "So we'll just have to wait and see what happens."
Tara Adair, who was at the back of the line with her three children, said the process seemed backwards.
"For them not wanting kids to get sick, we're all out here in the freezing cold with hundreds of people around that probably already have it," she said. "I think it's awful, I really do."
The mass clinic replaces the 34 H1N1 vaccine clinics scheduled this week for schoolchildren in the southwestern part of the province. The Horizon Health Network blamed the cancellation on a shortage of vaccine.
Some parents in line said they pulled their children out of school for a chance to be inoculated.
Stephanie Laking said she was just glad there was a clinic in her neighbourhood.
"They're working long hours to get everybody vaccinated," she said. "It's a wonderful thing that they're doing."
The clinic ran until 9 p.m., with some people waiting up to five hours to get inside.
There will be a second mass vaccination clinic at the Saint John Armoury on Friday.
