Health Department still waiting for H1N1 vaccine.

KINGSFORD -- The promise of fall means the return of flu shots, and residents in Dickinson County lined up on Saturday to get vaccinated.

Nobody likes to get them, but a few hundred people went to the Mass Flu Clinic at the Kingsford Middle School.   It was put on by the Dickinson Iron District Health Department and is the first they've held this flu season.

"We have done mass immunization clinics for several years now," said Community Health Department, Director Joyce Ziegler.  "Part of it is to be prepared if there's an emergency situation.  Another reason is we can see a lot of people in a short amount of time."

The seasonal flu vaccine, which was administered at the mass clinic, is not the same as the H1N1 flu vaccine that comes out later this fall.  Health Department officials say they might get doses by the end of October.  And they're encouraging people to also get that vaccine when it comes out.

The high risk group is kids and pregnant mothers, not senior citizens.

That includes college students and health care workers.  One EMS technician from Beacon Ambulance says he plans to get it.

"When the patients get in the back of the ambulance, it's really a tight quarters," said Greg Mattas.  "The air is very limited in there, so we're really exposed.  Flu shots will help us; there's no doubt about it."

Once the high risk group has received the H1N1 vaccine, the shots will be available for everyone else.

"It will probably be free of charge," Ziegler said, "or just a small administration fee for people to receive that vaccine."

And although it's a little painful now, flu shots can help prevent a lot of pain down the road.