Wake County distributes first round of H1N1 vaccine

More than 650 people showed up Thursday at four Wake County health departments to receive the first round of nasal vaccinations against the H1N1 flu virus.

Posted 4:00 p.m. Oct 8, 2009 — Updated 4:54 p.m. Oct 16, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — More than 650 people showed up Thursday at four Wake County health departments to receive the first round of nasal vaccinations against the H1N1 flu virus.

Wake County received about 3,500 doses from the initial 52,000 doses slated for health departments across the state.

The free vaccinations are also available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at health department branches in Raleigh, Zebulon, Wake Forest and Fuquay-Varina. No appointment is necessary, and vaccines are available as long as they remains in stock. (Still have questions about the flu? WRAL News wants to help.)

Public health officials are unsure when the next shipment of nasal mist will arrive, and they are reserving doses for those classified as high risk by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That group includes individuals ages 2 to 24 with no chronic diseases and those ages 24 to 49 who are healthy and care for children younger than 2 years old.

"I think it's just a responsibility thing," said Joelynn Winkler, a mother of a 3-month-old, who received the vaccination Thursday at the Public Health Center in Raleigh. "It's a good precaution, regardless of whether we could get it or couldn't. I think it's just the responsible thing to do to make sure we protect ourselves."

A listing of Wake County clinics holding H1N1 flu vaccinations: