Nov. 7--Hundreds of people lined up Friday starting in the early morning hours outside the Sheldon Richins Building awaiting a chance to be inoculated against the swine flu, an indication that Parkites remain fearful of the illness months after Park City became the epicenter for the H1N1 scare in Utah.
The demand for the vaccines spilled onto Landmark Drive as the line wrapped around the parking lot at Kimball Junction.
Nearly 1,000 total doses of the injectable and nasal-mist vaccines were expected to be administered on the West Side of Summit County Friday, according to Summit County Health Department spokeswoman Katie Mullaly.
Most of the people who lined up were expected to receive the inoculation, Mullaly said.
Parkite Javier Jaurrieta, who was second in line Friday morning, said his wait began at about 6 a.m.
"I just wanted to get the shot for my children," Jaurrieta said. "We want to make sure they don't get sick."
Parkite Judy Sands was the third person in line at the clinic.
"I got here at 7:20 a.m.," Sands said.
Sands said she needed to receive the vaccine because she suffers from a health condition.
"I certainly did not want to be exposed and get it," Sands said. "I have read about some older Americans dying of it, and people with health problems, so that is why I am concerned."
Because the H1N1 vaccine is in short supply health officials had been targeting children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years old. Pregnant women and direct
caregivers and parents of some infants had also received the vaccine.
But some older adults who suffer from health conditions were allowed to receive vaccines on Friday, Mullaly said.
Kamas resident Bobbie Williams, who is in her 60s, said she stood in line Friday because she has asthma.
"You've got to be kidding me. I didn't expect this," Williams said about the crowd.
"When you have asthma you've got to take care of yourself."
Snyderville Basin resident Melanie Magnus said she wanted her baby to receive the vaccine.
"I'm not trying to get involved in the hype," Magnus said. "But just to ease my nerves that we'll be OK, I decided to get it for her."
Deputies closed the parking lot at the Sheldon Richins Building after it filled Friday morning.
"We had people here at six in the morning," Summit County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Nick Wilkinson said.
This week, 14 deaths had been reported in Utah during this flu season as a result of the H1N1 virus, according to the Utah Department of Health.
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