Nov. 7--The York City Bureau of Health has a message for residents who are getting a busy signal or a full voice mailbox when trying to schedule a swine flu vaccination: Keep calling.

In the day since the bureau announced it would offer the vaccine to high-risk groups, more than 100 people had left messages seeking an appointment, said Joanne Sullivan, the bureau's director of personal-health services.

Some people complained that they tried calling but couldn't get through. That, Sullivan said, is because most of the bureau's staff was busy vaccinating people Thursday and Friday. The voicemail quickly filled up, she said, even though the staff is trying to check it every hour.

While the bureau offices will be closed for the weekend, someone will be manning the phones on Monday. If the line is busy, she said, please call back.

Demand has been so great, Sullivan said, at least a week's worth of appointments had been scheduled by Friday.

To qualify for the vaccine, a person must be a city resident, and be in one of the high priority groups listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

--- Pregnant women

--- Persons six months to 24 years old

--- Health care providers and EMS personnel

--- Parents, household members or caregivers of children under 6 months

--- Those under 65 with significant underlying medical conditions

The Bureau is also contenting to offer the vaccine to students in partnership with the

York City School District.

GETTING THE VACCINE

Those high-risk York residents who would like to receive the H1N1 vaccine should contact the York City Bureau of Health at 815-0910 to schedule an appointment.

If you get the answering machine when you call, leave a detailed message and someone will get back to you to schedule an appointment.

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