Clinic administers more than 4,800 flu shots

Organizers of Saturday's flu shot clinic couldn't be happier about the results of the effort to immunize residents and test a plan for protecting the public in the event of a mass public health threat.

"This was the best clinic ever," said Carson City Health & Human Services Director Marena Works.

More than 4,800 of the free seasonal flu immunizations available were gone by the time the clinics closed Saturday afternoon, said CCHHS spokeswoman Pam Graber.

And it was accomplished expediently, she said.

"We met and exceeded all of our objectives and demonstrated our ability to provide mass pharmaceuticals to our community in well under the CDC guidelines," Graber said.

"The Centers for Disease Control say we need to be able to protect our entire community within 72 hours by providing medicines. That averages out to dispensing 800 doses an hour," Graber said, "and we gave more than 1,200 an hour. That's remarkable."

The CCHHS offered two clinics Saturday - the drive-through at the Nevada National Guard on Fairview Drive and a walk-through clinic at the Carson City Senior Center. More than 100 volunteers and staff were involved at each location.

At the drive-through location, vehicles were lined up on the side of the road all the way to the roundabout at Fifth Street to enter the Guard's north entrance.

Once on the property, those wanting immunizations were given screening and registration forms to fill out while waiting to drive into a line for one of five stations where the shots were being administered.

Sue Moreda of Dayton was one of the early arrivals. She said she was pleased with the efficiency of the operation.

"This is a great service to the public and it's very well-organized. I, of course, want to be protected from the flu - and - it's free," Moreda said.

Sharon Shank of Carson City said Friday she was bringing her good friend, 84-year-old Wallie Mae Ludetke, to the drive-through clinic because it offered safety from germs.

"We were trying to find a place with the least exposure, because when you go places where there are children, they carry a lot of germs. It's important for everyone to be protected, but at her age, she's more vulnerable," Shank said.

To assess the success of the exercise from the public's point of view, exit interviews were conducted by some of the volunteers.

Volunteer Jim Smolenski said he heard lots of favorable comments, and that he enjoyed being involved.

"It's interesting to see the little ones in the back seats crying and fidgeting," he said. "With some, we were standing way up here and we could hear them crying all the way back there (at the immunization station."

While residents were interested in their health, Graber said the dual clinics provided the ideal opportunity to test the city's emergency system.

"You've got to have a lot of people at something in order to test your system," she said. "Marena has scoured this town to identify the most ideal locations for these PODs (points of dispensing). These volunteers are fully trained so if or when we have a real emergency, these are the people who will be called."

The emergency preparedness exercise was a combined effort by the Carson City Health and Human Services, Fire Department, Sheriff's Department, Senior Center, School District, Nevada National Guard, Nevada State Health Division, Northern Nevada Immunization Coalition, Nevada Public Health Foundation, Sierra Surgery Hospital, MedDirect Urgent Care and the Veteran Administration.