Mariposa H1N1 Flu Clinic | ABC30 Fresno | abc30.com

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By ABC30

Monday, November 16, 2009

MARIPOSA, Calif. This is the first time Deadra Nokes has waited in line for a flu shot. It's only fitting that she was first in line at Mariposa's free H1N1 flu clinic. She showed up two hours before it opened.

Nokes and nearly one hundred other Mariposa residents quickly maneuvered through this line once it started and received their shot.

"I thought of getting something in Fresno possibly because I didn't know how accessible it was going to be up here," said Linda Carter of Mariposa.

Linda Carter is one of those residents who did not meet the requirements for vaccination until Sunday.

"We've done 3 or 4 before but they were for different groups, very targeted groups," said Charles Mosher with the Mariposa Department of Health.

Dr. Charles Mosher with Mariposa's Health Department said despite being a remote county, they have received 2,000 doses. He said so far that's enough to vaccinate high risk groups like pregnant women and children and broaden the group to older adults. "We've already got a high percentage of what we ordered so they're going to distribute it to the other counties until everybody is about on the same level."

Everyone who comes through this line receives a free flu prevention kit. Inside it are hand sanitizer, Kleenex and information on H1N1.

There have been no H1N1 deaths reported in the county and people in this line said they wanted to keep it that way. "There've been quite a few cases here in Mariposa in the high schools and I'm a substitute teacher so I'm concerned about getting it," said Carter.

County health officials are concerned they have not reached enough of the high risk groups and urge those people to show up to clinics like this.

In Fresno, the flu pandemic forced some significant changes to church services Sunday.

At St. John's Cathedral in Downtown Fresno, bowls normally full of holy water are either empty or covered with a sign restricting access.

This week, Fresno Diocese Bishop John Steinbock issued health guidelines for Valley Catholic churches to follow, similar to those in place at the Sacramento diocese.

That includes asking parishioners not to shake hands during services if they're sick and changes in communion.