ATKINSON — Fred Kinsella thought he would finally get his flu shot yesterday at the Atkinson Community Center. But the Derry resident arrived just minutes after a sign was posted on the front door saying they were already out of vaccinations, about an hour into the four-hour clinic.
"We're going to have to search for another clinic," Kinsella said.
And he has been searching. Kinsella said he had tried at least four other places before heading to Atkinson yesterday. He said he usually gets his vaccination at work, the Social Security Administration, but this year it ran out of seasonal flu vaccine before he could get his.
"They had so many people, they ran out two weeks before all the appointments would have been filled," Kinsella said.
Atkinson's seasonal flu clinic, sponsored by the Police Department, is one of the largest in the area, according to Cathy Garrett of the Rockingham VNA and Hospice. Last year, about 400 vaccinations were given at the Atkinson clinic, but this year they had just 270.
"The H1N1 has made people aware of the vaccines you should get," Garrett said.
Vaccine wasn't always hard to find.
Two years ago, Garrett said, they had to throw away 1,000 doses because nobody wanted them.
Several people waiting for their shots yesterday said it was the first place they were able to find the vaccine.
Atkinson resident Ivan Grotenhuis said he tried to get a seasonal flu vaccination from his doctor about a week ago, but was turned away when they ran out.
"Doctors haven't really had any either," said Grotenhuis' wife, Gwen, while waiting with hundreds of other people to get their vaccinations.
Atkinson resident Kelly Doherty said she arrived at the clinic right at 10 a.m. because she feared it would run out. Doherty said she works at an early education center, so getting a flu vaccination is important.
But she's even more concerned about her 2-year-old daughter. She hasn't been able to find a place to get an H1N1 vaccination for her, including the family pediatrician.
"That's my highest priority, more so than for me," Doherty said.
According to state health officials 40,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine are on their way next week, but are destined for the highest risk patients — pregnant women, children with health problems and health care workers.
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Need a shot?
The Rockingham VNA and Hospice will hold three more flu clinics next month.
Nov. 2: Kingston, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kingston First Congregational Church, 6 Church St.
Nov. 4: Hampstead, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Anne's Church, 26 Emerson Ave.
Nov. 9: Windham, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Windham Senior Center, 2 N. Lowell Road.
