Davis County out of H1N1 vaccines

LAYTON — Demand for the H1N1 flu vaccines is far greater than the supply in Davis County.

During a mass clinic Tuesday at the Davis Conference Center, the Davis County Health Department administered 2,500 doses — the end of the county's current supply — of FluMist and injectable vaccines to county residents.

Some people lined up at 5:30 a.m., and by 7 a.m., when health department officials began arriving to set up for the planned 10 a.m. clinic, the line stretched around the building.

Instead of waiting until 10 a.m., however, officials opened the doors at 9 a.m. to begin vaccinations.

About 900 people an hour received vaccinations, said Lewis Garrett, director of the Davis County Health Department.

Within three hours, the vaccines were nearly gone, with about 70 people left standing in line.

"We knew we would have to turn people away," said Brian Hatch, county epidemiologist.

During a mass clinic Saturday at the Bountiful Regional Center in North Salt Lake, 5,300 people were vaccinated by 4 p.m. The leftover vaccines were used during Tuesday's clinic.

County health officials will learn Wednesday how much more vaccine they can order, and they plan to order the maximum number of doses, Garrett said.

If sufficient vaccines are available and arrive in a timely manner, Davis County will open another mass clinic at the Davis Conference Center on Tuesday.

Garrett said he also wants to make sure emergency medical workers in Davis County get immunized, as well, and wants to get vaccines out to them because they are among the targeted groups of people currently eligible for the vaccine.

Pregnant women should see their OB/GYN doctors for the vaccine, he said.

For more information, visit www.daviscountyutah.gov/flu or call 801-451-3333.

e-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com. TWITTER: desnewsdavis