By Hayley Kappes

Correspondent  

Published November 1, 2009

TEXAS CITY — The Galveston County Health District’s remaining swine flu vaccines were spoken for about 12:30 p.m. Saturday as hundreds waited in line at Mall of the Mainland.

The organization began administering 5,000 free vaccinations Friday to groups the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considered at risk for serious complications from H1N1 influenza, including pregnant women, health care and emergency medical workers and anyone 6 months through 24 years old. 

Galveston County Health District staff vaccinated about 3,100 people Friday, district spokesman Kurt Koopmann said. After opening at 10 a.m. Saturday, staff already were averaging 350 vaccinations per hour, Koopmann said. 

“We knew there wouldn’t be enough for everyone here today,” Koopmann said. “I anticipated a larger crowd here Saturday because school would be out.” 

District officials do not know when another shipment of the vaccine will be available in the county.  

After noon, a health district staff member announced that those who were not given paper work to fill out in line would not receive the vaccine Saturday. Security guards cut off the line at the last person who would receive the vaccine. 

A couple hundred people began leaving the mall in droves, some after mild protests. 

Maria Martinez, of Galveston, and her family were among those who did not arrive soon enough to get the shot. She said she will wait until the vaccine becomes more widely available. 

The Galveston County Health District’s vaccine supply arrived earlier than expected, and although it’s uncertain when the next shipment will arrive, state officials have said supplies are increasing, Koopmann said. 

William Harris, of Santa Fe, was advised by his doctor to receive the shot because he has a pacemaker. His wife, Josephine, wanted to be vaccinated because the two are taking a cruise to the Bahamas soon. 

“The doctor told me if I don’t get the vaccine, and I catch swine flu, I’m going to die,” William said. “I take this very seriously.” 

Marisa Ennis read a book to stay occupied as the line of potential recipients slowly crept forward. Ennis, of Pearland, is a pharmacist at Walgreen’s and is 29 weeks pregnant.  

Ennis said she would have preferred to receive the vaccine in a less-crowded venue, where exposure to airborne illnesses was not an issue, but she said no other medical provider in the area had the injectable vaccine. 

“I’m exposed to people with the flu all the time at work,” she said. “Since I haven’t caught it yet, I have to get this shot.”
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Kurt Koopmann

kkoopman@gchd.org