Wayne, Oakland counties give swine flu shots today

Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

Clarkston -- Long lines are anticipated today at two Oakland County clinic sites and two in Wayne County as the first doses of the H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine are offered to the public in southeast Michigan.

Clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for high-risk children and adults at Oakland Community College's Orchard Ridge campus, 27055 Orchard Lake in Farmington Hills, and the Clarkston Junior High School gymnasium, 6595 Waldon in Clarkston.

The Wayne County Health Department, meanwhile, will hold a walk-in clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hamtramck High School Community Center, 11350 Charest in Hamtramck.

And the Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion will immunize residents in target groups from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pathways Center in the Herman Keifer Health Complex, 1151 Taylor.

The Centers for Disease Control recommended certain target groups get the shot first, including pregnant women, children 6 months to 24 years old, and adults 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems.

"We have 21,000 doses which will be distributed today," said George Miller, director of Oakland County's health and human services department. "It's just a drop in the bucket for what is needed but it is a good start. Our goal is to immunize about 1,000 people an hour. We have done it in the past."

Macomb County's clinics will start next week.

mmartindale@detnews.com (248) 338-0319