(WXYZ) - You’ve seen the lines snake through jam-packed parking lots and down suburban streets. People waiting hours for their chance to get an H1N1 shot.
But the scene was very different today in Detroit where the city has opened a number of flu shot clinics to provide the vaccine to city residents.
Dr. Walter Davis, Detroit Pandemic Flu Coordinator, told us, “We decided to come to them to make it as easy and accessible for citizens to get the shots without having to wait in line.”
Dana Watts had been calling her obstetrician’s office for weeks hoping to get the vaccination but her doctor still didn’t have a supply. Today, her mom told her about the clinic at the Northwest Activities Center on Meyers Road.
Dana said, “I was excited. I was really getting a little concerned , I had been waiting to get the shot, because I am expecting and still hadn’t found a place to get it without a two or three hour wait.”
This afternoon there was a steady flow of people, but no line.
On Saturdays, all the community centers offer shots. Sometimes there can be a few hundred people show up at each site.
But auditoriums are set up to handle the crowds and once the centers open, the wait is usually an hour or less.
And Dr. Davis says the staff at all the sites can be expanded to handle the demand
Doctor Davis says he thinks one reason response isn’t as strong in
Detroit is that the flu hasn’t yet hit the city hard.
So, for now there are plenty of shots and lots of flu mist and nurses standing by.
Dr. Davis says, “We are gearing toward the target populations that the CDC is recommending, but we have the vaccine and at our sites right now, we aren’t turning anyone away.”
Dana is just glad she can stop worrying about her shot and turn her mind to more important things.
The Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (DHWP) will continue community H1N1 flu clinics for Detroit residents in the target groups from 11am to 3pm at selected Detroit recreation centers while vaccine is available.
The H1N1 flu clinics will continue its respective weekday hours, while others share Saturday hours. The recreation center schedule is as follows:
BUTZEL FAMILY CENTER - 7737 Kercheval, Tuesdays 11am - 3pm
COLEMAN A. YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER - 2751 Robert Bradby Drive, Saturdays 11am - 3pm
HEILMANN RECREATION CENTER - 19601 Crusade, Saturdays 11am - 3pm
LaSED COMMUNITY CENTER - 7150 W. Vernor Hwy, Saturdays 11am - 3pm
NORTHWEST ACTIVITIES CENTER - 18100 Meyers, Wednesdays & Saturdays 11am - 3pm (Clinic is closed Wednesday, Nov 11 for Veteran's Day)
PATTON COMMUNITY CENTER - 2301 Woodmere, Thursdays, 11am - 3pm
THE HERMAN KIEFER HEALTH COMPLEX WILL RUN FROM 8:30am - 4:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 10:30am - 6:00pm on Wednesday. It will also run Saturday clinic hours of 11am - 3pm
