Plans in Works for Swine Flu Vaccine Clinics Across Region

Plans are emerging for government-run H1N1 flu vaccination clinics across the Washington region, with a public clinic set to start at noon Thursday in Greenbelt and another Friday afternoon at the Manassas Mall.

A campaign to immunize Loudoun County elementary school students will begin Friday, with broad vaccination efforts for students launching next week in Prince George's, Alexandria and Manassas schools. Mass vaccination clinics are also planned for school-age young people in the District starting next week, officials said.

For now, the focus of the vaccination efforts is on priority groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: pregnant women, people who live with or take care of children younger than 6 months, health-care and emergency workers, young people from 6 months through 24 years of age, and people 25-64 with chronic health conditions.

Two local Maryland jurisdictions have set a particular day of the week for walk-in clinics. Montgomery is holding vaccinations at a variety of locations on Wednesdays; a large crowd that converged on the first one had chilly two-hour waits. Next week, Prince George's is starting clinics each Thursday at the Cheverly Health Center (3003 Hospital Dr. in Cheverly) from 9 a.m. to noon, officials said.

In Fairfax County, vaccination clinics for students will be held at 10 school sites Oct. 24 and 25. Daily walk-in clinics in eight locations across Fairfax will start Oct. 26.

Private doctors offices across the region are also getting and giving the vaccine. Many health-care workers are also being immunized.

The clinic in Greenbelt on Thursday is part of the Springhill Lake Health and Wellness Fair, which is being held at Springhill Lake Elementary School, 6060 Springhill Dr. in Greenbelt. Although it's at a school, it is targeted at all priority groups, including pregnant women.

Theresa Dunni stood under a polka dot umbrella in a steady rain at the Greenbelt clinic at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. More than 90 people were lined up to be vaccinated, including two dozen outside.

"I've got to get mine. It's a must, because I'm diabetic," said Dunni, 49, an administrative assistant at the University of Maryland. The clinic is free and was set up for adults.

"At the doctor's office it's like 30 bucks a pop. If I can get it for free, fine, because I'm one of those people living paycheck to paycheck," she said.

Prince George's county health officials have called in additional staff to open an overflow site in a bus parked outside.

For a growing list of when and where to get vaccinated, see www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/flu_shots.html.