H1N1 Clinic at Buckeye Valley Overwhelmed
Hunderds of people lined up at Buckey Valley High School today in hopes of receiving an H1N1 vaccine. This clinic was only for high risk individuals: children from 6 months to 18 years of age, pregnant women and certain adults in high risk categories.
The lines started well before 2:00 pm this afternoon. We arrived at 1:55 pm and Delaware County Sheriff deputies were directing cars to line up in two lines in one direction, and holding cars on the side of the road in the other direction. There were already about 200 cars lined up. At 3:00, the deputies started directing cars into the parking lot. After about a 40 minute wait, we managed to park. My daughter (who was the one getting vaccinated today) was already in line. The people in line were polite and in a good mood. Although, there was this one very annoying lady with a bullhorn. Despite bullhorn lady, all of the Delaware County Health Department workers were patient, pleasant and professional. We had about a 40 minute wait in the car, and my daughter had about a 50 minute wait in line. We were out of there by 4:00. I couldn’t help but notice that bullhorn lady was still there.
Popularity: 40% [?]
As a neighbor to Buckeye Valley High School, let me say that the insanity lasted until after 8:30 tonight. People panicked about getting the vaccine drove up on my lawn and parked all over, without regard to personal property. I spent the evening picking up garbage people tossed and wondering why the organizers of this clinic didn’t put this on the fairgrounds. People returning to their cars were either very polite (those who got the vaccine), or extraordinarily impolite… especially given that they just parked wherever they wanted to. My lawn is now striped with ruts from everybody driving in and making a parking lot. One woman even got in my face when I told her this was private property, and she shouted, “WE HAD NO CHOICE!” Um… it looked like a scene out of Stephen King’s “The Stand.” All this paranoia and panic. Sheesh. I sure hope they don’t repeat this again, but if they do, I’m staying home and charging people to park in my “THE END IS NEAR” lot.
Fortunately, my daughter and I got in and got out before people started acting like idiots. I actually pulled her out of school almost an hour early so we could get in line and avoid the panicky people. She has moderate to severe asthma, so she is in a high category. I knew before we went that I wasn’t going to get a vaccination, I’m not in a high risk group and there were high risk people that truly needed a vaccination more than I did. The fairgrounds would have been a great place for this clinic, but I suspect that they didn’t want the inevitable traffic gridlock in town. I was a little surprised that this was scheduled for immediately after Buckeye Valley school released. They had to of known that in itself would cause traffic chaos. As for the paranoia and panic, you’re right, this is like a scene from The Stand. Of course H1N1 is serious, but I have to wonder how much panic the media has induced by their sensationalized coverage.