If you want to get the H1N1 vaccine, get ready to wait. In the Tri-State, demand is overwhelming the slowly-arriving supply.
This morning, one Cincinnati clinic had to shut down early. They've already cancelled plans for vaccinations tomorrow (Thursday) at a downtown clinic.
Local 12's Joe Webb has been covering the story.
Health officials expected to start getting the H1N1 vaccine in September, but here it is, nearly November, and only a fraction of the vaccine has been delivered. What we've found is even some of the highest risk people are struggling to find a place to get a flu shot.
At the city health clinic in Northside, the highest-risk patients could get the vaccine from 9 to 11 today.
Rocky Merz, Cincinnati Health Dept. "There were people lined up here at 6 o'clock this morning. Several hundred in line when we opened the door at 8 o'clock."
Several hundred and only 200 doses of H1N1 vaccine. The supply ran out around 10. Cincinnati has 110,000 doses on order. So far, only 8,000 have arrived. The last person in line got lucky today, but is nevertheless frustrated. Beth Steele and her daughter, Addy, qualify for the first round of vaccine... Addy because her age... Beth because she's got a two week old baby, liam.
Beth Steele, Loveland: "I did contact my OB when I was pregnant trying to get the vaccine to protect my unborn and my 2 year old who goes to school two days a week and they just didn't have any. I did call my OB yesterday and they still didn't have any vaccine."
Neither did her pediatrician. Cincinnati's not alone. In Northern Kentucky, they only have enough vaccine to share with first responders and a just a few doses to share with pregnant women and children.
Steve Divine, No. Ky. Health Dept. "We have not got a sufficient amount where we can open up our own mass-vaccination sites. We've talked about going into the schools, which we plan on doing. We don't have enough to do that yet."
So far, Northern Kentucky's Health Department has only received less than four percent of the vaccine it expected to receive. The vaccine, walk-in session scheduled for Cincinnati's Elm Street health clinic tomorrow morning has been postponed.
We'll let you know when it's rescheduled. The good news is people are anxious to get it. And more vaccine is on the way.
The Cincinnati Health Department does have another high-risk vaccine clinic scheduled for Friday at the Millvale Health Center. It should run from one until four.
The Warren County Health District is holding a clinic for the injectable H1N1 vaccine tomorrow (Thursday) from 4:30 to 6:30. It is at the Health District on South East Street in Lebanon. The shot will only be administered to children between six months and 18 who have a chronic illness, including asthma.
