Line forms at H1N1 vaccine clinic in Cheverly

More than 200 people lined up for the H1N1 vaccine in Prince George's Thursday morning, leaving officials worried that they would have to turn people away.

But "so far so good," said Leila Carney of Arlington, who needs the shot because a family member has an immune deficiency. She had planned to attend a clinic in Manassas but it was canceled -- and more than 1,500 people had showed up in Rockville Wednesday. "It's been really hard to find," Carney said at the Prince George's clinic.

"Our lines have not been as vast compared to other counties," Prince George's health department spokesman Dellia Hawthorne-Williams said.

The exact size of supplies on hand in Prince George's was unclear. Clinic staff said they have a few hundred flu shots, and plenty of nasal mist -- though pregnant women, children younger than 2, and people with medical conditions can not use the spray because it contains a weakened form of the live virus.

The line was calm, but there was some confusion. In announcing the clinics, to be held each Thursday at the Prince George's health clinic in Cheverly, officials did not indicate that appointments could be made. Some persistent callers to the county health line -- 888-561-4049 -- made appointments, while others who spent hours unsuccessfully trying just showed up. Also, the county health department's Web site is out of date and incorrectly says that no vaccine has yet been developed.

But those who found their way here said they were pleased to have a chance at the vaccine in an uncertain environment.

"My doctor's office is giving it. I have an appointment on Monday but they told me it wasn't a sure thing," said Veronica Brun, a Hyattsville receptionist who is 7-1/2 months pregnant. "And they were charging for the shot."

Prince George's health officer Donald Shell said officials had been anticipating roughly 400 people. "The slow rollout of the vaccine is putting local jurisdictions in a predicament," he said.

Clinics in the District are scheduled to open Thursday as planned.

Shell said they would continue to vaccinate anyone in line by noon, and they hoped not to turn anyone away.

"If we're in the hundreds -- 300, 400, 500 -- we're looking pretty good," he said. "If we get into the thousands of people we won't be able to see them."

They vaccinated 435 people total, everyone in line, by closing time, officials said.

"We didn't have to turn anyone away," said Hawthorne-Williams.