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Local H1N1 clinics attract thousands

Blog: Thousands turn out for Greene County vaccine clinic

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By Christopher Magan and Anthony Gottschlich
Staff Writers Updated 1:15 AM Friday, October 30, 2009

XENIA — Kids don’t like shots, especially tikes under 4.

That much was apparent Thursday, Oct. 29, as thousands filled Hara Arena in Trotwood for an H1N1 vaccine clinic for pregnant women and children ages 6 months to 4 years.

“No, no ... Wahhhh!” cried first-in-line Isabella Bruns, 2, the daughter of Margaret Bruns of Brookville.

Margaret Bruns said Isabella doesn’t like shots, but had pneumonia four weeks ago. “It’s imperative she get the shot,” said Bruns, 30, who works for the county juvenile court. “I don’t want her to get the swine flu. I’d like to hopefully keep her safe this way.”

Margaret Bruns said she and her daughter are familiar with the flu. She said she caught the flu while pregnant and it almost killed her daughter. She had to be induced to give birth a month early to get the baby out of harm’s way.

“I almost lost her because of the flu. Her heart rate crashed,” Bruns said.

Public Health — Dayton & Montgomery County brought 4,000 vaccines to the clinic, which ran 3 to 7 p.m. and was the county’s first H1N1 clinic outside of area schools. By evening, 1,200 vaccines had been administered by nurses, nursing students and medical technicians.

“We are really excited on how the community is responding to this entire situation,” said Health Commissioner Jim Gross, standing near a long line that wrapped around the arena, where some had waited since 6 a.m.

A similar scene occurred at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, where at least 2,000 people were in line when an H1N1 clinic for high-risk groups started at 2 p.m. The Greene County Combined Health District brought 5,000 vaccines to the clinic and had used around 4,000 by its 7 p.m. closing, spokeswoman Sara Pappa said.

Gross and Pappa said future clinics will be scheduled as vaccine becomes available.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7408 or agottschlich@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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