Tempers flare as vaccination lines grow, supplies run out

PORTLAND, Ore. - On the weekend President Obama declared a national emergency because of the swine flu, people in the Portland area spent hours in line - even overnight - to get the H1N1 vaccine. The short supply caused some tempers to flare.      

The lines to get the H1N1 vaccination at some Portland-area clinics grew, while others were turned away as vaccines ran out.

"There were folks at the clinic who spent the night to get in line," said one parent who joined a lined-up throng on Saturday. 

And as the lines grew, the tensions mounted.

"I was not expecting traffic cops, or parking two miles away," said a woman in line.

The tension especially grew in lines like that at the Emmanuel Temple, where Saxon D'Aubin stood for hours trying to get his son a shot.

"I'm glad he now has the shot," D'Aubin said. "My wife was keeping him out of school until he got it."

A rash of school-based swine flu cases, like the nearly 400 reported at Lincoln High School earlier this month, had other parents doing erring on the side of caution as well: keeping their children out, until the vaccine could be put in.

Before D'Aubin's son was able to get into the temple for his shot, D'Aubin said someone decided to split the line. Though the line was calm by the time KATU's camera crew arrived, D'Aubin said the confusion started leading to chaos.

"All it needed was a little bit of pushing," he said, "and everybody would have freaked out."

Multnomah County Health Officer Gary Oxman said the idea is to get children and pregnant women in first.

On such expecting mother spoke to KATU while waiting in line at one of the clinics. "My feet are swollen," she said, "and I didn't bring a chair."

The public health clinics are making them a priority. (See "Officials ask those not in a priority group to wait for vaccine.")

"Our next priority group after pregnant women and children is someone with chronic illness," said one clinic worker.

"Are they going to give it to me or not?" Roxanne Checkley wondered to the KATU crew. Indeed, Checkley was told that she barely made the cutoff.

Without the shot, "I didn't want to take my daughter to many places, and don't want to be around kids," Checkley said. "I'm scared."

As far as those who do make it through the doors? They are not as worried about the lines or the virus.

"I just don't want it to be a shot," said one of the children waiting in line. "I'm really hoping it's the mist."

Those in line over the weekend said they had their sights on that sharp needle right in front of them. It's one they are not altogether looking forward to, but one they feel is a necessity.