NEWPORT NEWS -- After-school H1N1 vaccination clinics are being canceled on the Peninsula after a shortage of vaccines.
The clinics, hosted by the Peninsula Health District, started Tuesday with hundreds of parents and children waiting in line for the swine flu shot.
But health officials say the supply can no longer meet the demand.
Health officials plan to reschedule some of those clinics sometime next month.?But many people who heard about next week's cancellations made their way to a clinic Friday at McIntosh Elementary School in Newport News.
The doors for the after-school clinic didn't open until 4:00 p.m. but people started lining up two hours early.
"I didn't want to wait and sit out here until 8 o'clock. What if they run out?" said Julie Swatwood.
This week, the Peninsula Health District conducted seven after-school clinics, and about 1000 people show up for each one.?
Dr. David Trump says he's glad that people recognize the health risks that can come with getting the flu.
"We were encouraged at the state level and the local level to plan for more vaccine. A fairly large number of vaccine to be available in October and because of the production delays, not enough vaccine was available," ?said Trump.
The after-school clinics canceled next week will be rescheduled when the health department receives large enough quantities of the vaccine.
But, some families in this line didn't want to take a chance waiting for new shipments.?
"I'm in the medicine field and I've seen patients with the flu, the H1NI1.? It's not a good thing.? I'm making sure I get my kids covered and myself, because I'm exposed to those patients," said Dawnette Nosworthy.
"The whole vaccine production was based on good decisions.?But, they were estimates,"? said Trump.
This clinic at McIntosh Elementary and one in James City County at James River Elementary were scheduled to run until 8:00 p.m.
Local health officials hope in the next two weeks to have an idea when the cancelled clinics will be rescheduled. ?
