Over 200 Vaccines Administered in First Flu Clinic

The first of four flu clinics took place at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church Thursday. While the turnout was sparse in the morning, the pace picked up in the afternoon as about 200 senior citizens went to have a flu shot administered.

The Wellesley Health Department was at the Church from 9a.m. – 2 p.m. helping seniors file paperwork and receive their vaccines, which includes protection against the swine flu strain, for the upcoming season.

Last season, the public was urged to get two vaccines: One for a seasonal flu strain and another for the highly contagious and somewhat debilitating swine flu, officially known as the H1N1, strain, which spread quickly last year.

"Last year was a complete anomaly," said Mary Suresh, director of the Wellesley Health Department. "There's certainly a lot less alarm and anxiety this year."

While the heavy threat of last year's swine flu epidemic slowed, health officials are still advising that anyone older than 6-months receive a vaccine, according to Suresh.

"It was recognized a couple years back that children are the biggest carriers of flu," she said, adding that the standard of who would require vaccines was limited to people with weakened immune systems.

While the morning was slow for the clinic –designed to service the elderly population exclusively – the numbers picked up by afternoon. The next two clinics, taking place Oct. 27 and Oct. 28, both at the Church, will cater to the general public. The last clinic, taking place Nov. 6, will service families with children specifically. At this clinic, the Health Department will be administering both shots and a nasal spray vaccine.