H1N1 clinics here run smoothly

I am impressed with the way the Yuma County Health Department is handling the H1N1 flu vaccinations locally.

We have been reporting on the clinics that are being held here in recent weeks, including one Thursday, so I have been following how many doses were available and who was eligible to receive them. I have also noted that there have been fairly long lines, especially in the morning.

But it was not until Thursday that I experienced the process for myself, when the vaccinations were opened to Tier 2 people, which includes adults with chronic health conditions.

I was a little reluctant to go to the clinic, thinking there would probably be long lines and that it would be better to wait until later when there was less demand. But a co-worker went down about midday and let me know that the lines were short.

So off I went to get my H1N1 shot.

The organization and smoothness of the operation was impressive.

Once you get inside the Southgate Mall, where the clinics are being conducted, there is a "roped"-off line area - someone described it to me as like a Disneyland back and forth line area and that is an apt description.

While in that line, workers determine each person's eligibility to get vaccinated, which follows federal and state guidelines for who should get the H1N1 shots (and in some cases, nasal flu mist) first.

First up (Tier 1) were pregnant women, very young children, health care workers and a few others. Tier 2 - which includes all children, adults up to age 64 with chronic health conditions and some others - was added in the latest clinic. It is likely Tier 3 - anyone who wants to be vaccinated - will join the line soon.

Once you get through the preliminary screening line, people go into a vacant store area where lines of chairs are set up so people can sit while waiting to be directed to people providing the vaccinations. There are a good number of these workers, so things tend to move along quickly - 358 people went through in the first hour Thursday.

It reminded me somewhat of the local Motor Vehicle Division office which uses a similar seating system to move crowds of people through the system.

When I got to the Southgate Mall in the early afternoon, there was very little waiting at the clinic site. That was a surprise to me. I thought there would be a bigger demand since this was the first day the vaccinations were offered to Tier 2 people.

Still, as many as 1,800 people were vaccinated that day.

Perhaps some people are still concerned about the safety of the H1N1 vaccine. There have been rumors floating around that it was not fully tested, but that is false. Federal health authorities say it was more fully tested than the regular flu vaccines that are given out each year.

I am not aware of any media reports of serious ill effects from the H1N1 vaccinations given so far, and I wasn't concerned about getting vaccinated. Each person has to make their own choices about these things, of course.

While I imagine many people are still frustrated about the delays and process for getting vaccinated against H1N1, especially those who do not fall into the early tier groups, I think the county health folks are doing what they can to help people through the process.

Their clinic was organized and efficient. Workers were professional and "customer friendly" Thursday. Perhaps it was because I hit it at a "slow" time, but I doubt it.

I wish the rest of the health care system worked as well as this H1N1 clinic did.

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Terry Ross is director of the Yuma Sun's News and Information Center. E-mail him at tross@yumasun.com or phone him at 539-6870.