More than 3,000 students get H1N1 vaccine

Volunteers distributed more than 3,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine to students last Friday in what was described as a “ridiculously efficient” H1N1 vaccination clinic.

The clinic, the first of a planned three for Penn, was staffed by senior Nursing students, volunteers from the Medical Emergency Response Team and staff from the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life in conjunction with Student Health Service officials, according to SHS Director Evelyn Wiener.

During the opening hours of the clinic, volunteers distributed more than 800 doses per hour.

Most students were able to register and receive the vaccine within about five to 10 minutes, and almost all had a wait time of less than half an hour, Wiener said.

College sophomore Ariella Messing arrived at the clinic at 10:30 a.m. to find a long line stretching out of the ARCH building, where the clinic was held, and onto Locust Walk.

She said she received the vaccine by 10:50 a.m., in time to make it to her 11 a.m. class.

“It was ridiculously efficient,” Messing said.

The clinic, organized by Sharon McMullen, the public health nurse of SHS, ran from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. — slightly longer than planned.

The remaining two H1N1 vaccination clinics are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 4. SHS cannot confirm the clinic dates until they know they will have enough vaccine, Wiener said, likely later this week.

The first H1N1 vaccination clinic was originally scheduled for Nov. 6, but was delayed when the requested H1N1 vaccine did not arrive on time due to national delays in vaccine production and shipping.

Students seeking to be vaccinated at future clinics are asked to bring their PennCard and wear clothing which allows access to the upper arm. SHS will not charge for the vaccine.

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