Despite the cold weather Saturday morning, dozens of parents and children bundled up and waited in line for the nasal flu vaccine in Scranton.
The clinic was held by the Scranton Temple Residency Program and Moses Taylor Health Care.
An hour before the clinic opened in Scranton there was a line of eager parents and children waiting for the free vaccine.
"I came out to get my daughter the swine flu vaccination. Right now me pediatrician doesn't have it for her age they are getting it in, but I wanted to get her vaccinated as soon as possible," said Laura Gonzalez of Scranton.
"Our twins were preemies and they're more at risk to have lung issues if they get H1N1 so we wanted them to have the vaccine," said Tracey Collins of Clarks Summit.
"The kids I hear that get it are getting real sick and you can't really take that chance, you know?" said Dave Price of Scranton.
Organizers said this was the first free swine flu clinic in Lackawanna County. They targeted children ages two to 18. That is the age group health officials claim is most susceptible to the illness.
"There have been a number of severe illnesses especially in the southeast part of the state where Children's' Hospital really has an epidemic and is getting overwhelmed with illnesses at this point. So we're fortunate here in northeastern Pennsylvania that the epidemic has not hit home to have a chance to immunize our children before the epidemic," said Dr. John Guzek of the Scranton Temple Health Clinic.
Organizers had 1,000 doses of the nasal spray vaccine to give out Saturday.
"We have really seen a high demand for the vaccine so we were really prepared for a high volume of patients today," said Karen Murphy of Moses Taylor Health Care System.
For those who stood in the chilly morning air for the vaccine, getting it for their children was a huge relief.
"Waiting here to make sure that my daughter is safe is the most important thing for me, I don't mind the wait," said Gonzalez.
The government is recommending children who get the nasal vaccine have two doses to be fully protected from the swine flu. Local health officials said they're hoping for another shipment so they can give out multiple doses to children in Lackawanna County.
The clinic was held by the Scranton Temple Residency Program and Moses Taylor Health Care.
An hour before the clinic opened in Scranton there was a line of eager parents and children waiting for the free vaccine.
"I came out to get my daughter the swine flu vaccination. Right now me pediatrician doesn't have it for her age they are getting it in, but I wanted to get her vaccinated as soon as possible," said Laura Gonzalez of Scranton.
"Our twins were preemies and they're more at risk to have lung issues if they get H1N1 so we wanted them to have the vaccine," said Tracey Collins of Clarks Summit.
"The kids I hear that get it are getting real sick and you can't really take that chance, you know?" said Dave Price of Scranton.
Organizers said this was the first free swine flu clinic in Lackawanna County. They targeted children ages two to 18. That is the age group health officials claim is most susceptible to the illness.
"There have been a number of severe illnesses especially in the southeast part of the state where Children's' Hospital really has an epidemic and is getting overwhelmed with illnesses at this point. So we're fortunate here in northeastern Pennsylvania that the epidemic has not hit home to have a chance to immunize our children before the epidemic," said Dr. John Guzek of the Scranton Temple Health Clinic.
Organizers had 1,000 doses of the nasal spray vaccine to give out Saturday.
"We have really seen a high demand for the vaccine so we were really prepared for a high volume of patients today," said Karen Murphy of Moses Taylor Health Care System.
For those who stood in the chilly morning air for the vaccine, getting it for their children was a huge relief.
"Waiting here to make sure that my daughter is safe is the most important thing for me, I don't mind the wait," said Gonzalez.
The government is recommending children who get the nasal vaccine have two doses to be fully protected from the swine flu. Local health officials said they're hoping for another shipment so they can give out multiple doses to children in Lackawanna County.
