Actually, it was a pretty short line.

Last year, the first thing we did upon arriving in Florida after a summer in Wisconsin and long drive south was head for the polling booths, anticipating long waits for the US presidential election.  And there were waits, of about three hours, but things were fairly well organized and smooth, and the electoral process moved forward.

The long-awaited H1N1 vaccine arrived in southwest Florida this week, just in time for my arrival from the frozen north late Monday, and again the first order of business was to stand in line on election day.

Shots and Flumist were given by the Lee County (Florida) Health Department at several area locations Monday and Tuesday.  My husband, sister and I went to Estero High School in Estero, Florida, about fifteen miles from our home, at 5:30 p.m. (the free clinic was from 4-9 p.m.)  There were probably over a hundred volunteers there to expedite the process for what appeared to be only about seventy-five people getting the vaccinations at the time we arrived.  There was no line, no waiting.  The process went smoothly:

First, we were asked to fill out two forms, one of which indicated whether or not we were in a priority group for getting the vaccine.  (I noted they did not turn anyone away for the H1N1 vaccine tonight for being outside a priority group.)

Second, we gave the forms to one of the many volunteers at the first row of tables, who issued a card authorizing the shot and sent us with one form and the card to a second volunteer at another row of tables.

Third, the second volunteer determined whether we were to get the Flumist or the injectable form, wrote on our papers and sent us to wait in one of two extremely short lines (half-a-dozen people each) to wait for one of about forty vaccine-administering nurses to raise her hand and indicate she was available.

Fourth, we received the vaccine, in our case a quick and relatively painless shot in the upper arm of our choice, then were handed an information sheet on the H1N1 vaccine and possible complications, along with a card indicating we'd received it.

Fifth, an exit greeter handed us a card with a phone number to call if we experienced complications. 

And that was it--fairly simple, relatively painless, and practically no waiting.  Volunteers commented that turnout has been unusually light at most locations in our county so far.

I'm nursing a sore arm at the injection site tonight and some mild nausea, but hope to have dodged the H1N1 bullet. 

Local news resources:   More than 3,000 swine flu vaccines given at Lee County clinics Monday

More swine flu shots given; program to continue