By ABC-7 Reporter Celina Avila
EL PASO -- Public health officials are urging residents to be patient when it comes to setting up an appointment for next Tuesday's Mass Swine Flu Clinic at the Civic Center.
Thursday, the ABC-7 newsroom received many emails and phone calls from angry residents claiming they were having trouble getting an answer with the city's H1N1 vaccine hotline. It was the first day people could call the hotline to make an appointment for the one-day clinic.
"It's just busy, busy, busy, and I couldn't get through," said an angry resident. "I even called the mayor's office to see why they didn't have enough phones."
City public health officials say they have a few thousand vaccines and are taking calls and making appointments as soon as they can.
Residents have also complained that they have spent several hours on the phone only to get cut when somebody answers the phone. City officials say they hired eight temporary staff workers to take calls, many of whom were even working through lunch.
Some complaints have also targeted the training of the temporary staff workers.
"They're not medical people, they're not nurses, they're just people who were quickly trained to take these calls," said Michael Hill, the city's Public Health Coordinator. "And as the morning's going along they're hearing the questions more and more and they're beginning to pick up the answers."
While visiting the city's call center at the Department of Public Health, ABC-7 learned misinformed residents were actually showing up to be vaccinated.
Health officials want to remind the public that the free vaccines will only be offered to people considered a high priority by the Center for Disease Control.
These include pregnant women and anyone between the ages of six months to 24 years. Elderly people over 65 years of age are not considered to be a part of the priority group, officials said. However, adults and the elderly under the age 64 with underlying health conditions will be given the vaccine.
The appointment line is 915-771-5759. Appointments will be taken from 8:30 a.m. through 7 p.m. until Saturday, then again on Monday during the same hours.
Officials made it clear no walk-ins will be allowed at Tuesday's vaccine clinic, so you must have an appointment and lots of patience!
