EL PASO, TX -- The city says 3,500 people are expected to show up downtown for the massive H1N1 vaccination clinic set up in the convention center.

The clinic is appointment only, said the Public Health Preparedness coordinator for the city.

"When people come in, they'll check in and if they have an appointment they'll be allowed to proceed through the line," Joanne Bates told ABC-7 during a tour of the facility Monday.

"If they don't have an appointment they'll be asked to leave."

Officials are hoping to control crowds from gathering outside in the cold by setting up 150 chairs inside the center where people can fill out the necessary information while waiting for their vaccine.

On hand will be 48 nurses and 150 volunteers with the El Paso chapter of the Red Cross, the Office of Emergency Management, and the convention center to help expedite the process.

But when we asked, Bates was vague on how long the entire process would take from start to finish.

"We anticipate the process to be a lot faster than the process that we did a few weeks ago," she replied, not offering more explanation.

In October, dozens if not hundreds of parents, children, and the elderly lined up outside the doors of the public health clinics offering H1N1 vaccines.

Many complained they were waiting in the cold for up to five hours.

Officials ask that you help speed up the process by arriving on time for your appointment, bringing your confirmation number with you, and by wearing clothing that gives easy access to your arm.

If you did not get an appointment for today's swine flu inoculation, the city is still taking appointments for its next distribution of a third shipment of vaccines.

They will be given out at the five health clinics in El Paso in December.

 

Written for kvia.com by Anchor/Reporter Stephanie Valle