INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -There are shorter lines and fewer people standing out in the rain waiting for flu shots at the Independence Health Department. Last week, organizers ran out after 700 doses, and had to turn 150 people away.
This week the Health Department is taking a new approach, handing out appointment tickets in half-hour increments. For Michele Barrett, a two-hour wait was cut down to about a half hour. She had to get the vaccine to protect herself and her son from the H1N1.
"It would probably put him in the hospital. with his asthma, it would put him there," said Barrett.
The flu clinic is focusing on young people ages 2-24. They are also giving parents of kids 6 months or younger and health care workers the vaccine. There were 700 doses available only in the mist form.
Here are the requirements for those getting the FluMist vaccine.
- Ages 2-49
- Must not be pregnant
- must not have chronic health conditions
- must not have an allergy to eggs
- must not receive antiviral medications within the last 48 hours
- must not have had the season FluMist within the last 28 days
Children under the age of 9 must come back in a month to get a second dose.
