HALTOM CITY - People lined up outside in the rain Friday morning for Tarrant County's first swine flu vaccination clinic.
The clinic - in Haltom City at W. G. Thomas Coliseum, 6108 Broadway - was scheduled to open at 10 a.m. There were 400 people in line at 8:30 a.m. for the 3,000 available doses.
Some, like Kathleen Jenkins, had been waiting since Thursday night. She and her two children were trying to stay warm inside a pup tent.
"I've had pneumonia three times since 2004," Jenkins said, adding that her children were also in the high-risk category. "She's asthmatic but Kelly's more severe asthmatic."
Officials said doors to the coliseum would open at 9 a.m.
Plenty of parking was available, although there was no evidence of rest room facilities available for those who were waiting.
The clinic will provide free H1N1 vaccine - in both injectable and nasal spray doses - to pregnant women and high-risk children between six months and 18 years old.
The guidelines have been established by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Tarrant County Public Health says high-risk children include those with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and chronic heart or lung conditions.
Adults will be asked only two questions: "Have you had the vaccine before?" and "Are you allergic to eggs?" Children may be asked more questions.
County spokesman Marc Flake said documentation of residency or medical condition will not be required. "We are just leaving it up to the honesty of Tarrant County residents," he said.
The clinic was scheduled to conclude at 6 p.m. or when all doses have been dispensed - whichever comes first.
This is just the first in a series of swine flu vaccine clinics in Tarrant County. Additional events will be scheduled as more doses become available, health officials said.
