On Monday morning the Boone County Health Department held rural clinics in Hartsburg and Ashland. At the senior center in Ashland people were lining up at the door to get their flu shots. Public Health nurse Hazel Kerr said, "I would say 40 to 50 people were already here when we got here at 10:30."

These rural health clinics are one of the main reasons the Boone County Health Department has decided to stop giving out seasonal flu vaccines at its Columbia location. "We wanted to make sure we had enough seasonal flu vaccine to reach the folks that attend those rural health clinics," said Boone County Health Department Public Information Specialist Geni Alexander.

Alexander said she doesn't think the vaccine will run out, but with the boom in people who are getting the shot she'd rather be safe than sorry.  Alexander said, "On Monday the 19th when our rural clinics are complete we'll take a look. If we have any seasonal vaccine left we'll start offering them again on a walk in basis. "  Last year, the health department was able to keep walk in hours open during the entire season.

Some counties may be having problems with the seasonal flu vaccine because manufactures are backed up making H1N1 vaccine. Alexander said, "There are some manufacturers who don't have all their seasonal vaccine complete because they are working on H1N1 as well." She also said this is not a problem in Boone County. The amount of seasonal flu vaccine that they are still waiting to receive is miniscule.

Besides the seasonal flu vaccine, Boone County is still waiting on the H1N1 vaccine. Officals are expecting the shipment from the state any day now after placing the order on September 30. The Cole County Health Department has already received its first shipment of the vaccine.  The H1N1 vaccine will be available to specific groups at first but the Boone County hopes to offer it to the public soon. "At a later date when the vaccine is really rolling in, in large quantities we anticipate offering walk in clinics much like we do for the seasonal vaccine," said Alexander.

Until that time people will have to be patient about both vaccinations or they can go to one of the rural clinics listed on the Boone County Health Department web site.