I suppose I owe a partial apology to the City of Milwaukee after ripping its Swine Flu vaccine clinic mobilization in a blog earlier this week. Though I stand by my assertion that the City's communications regarding the H1N1 vaccine clinics have been confusing, contradictory and incomplete, as I found out today, the execution actually went more smoothly than I expected.
I'm as surprised as anyone to write this, but this afternoon I parked right in front of South Division High School, stood in a short line, and walked out 45 minutes later with the nasal version of the Swine Flu vaccine. The procedure was orderly, well-staffed, completely bilingual and friendly. Volunteers even passed out fruit punch and took their time to explain the process and any potential complications. My only disappointment was that the free satellite clinic didn't offer the injectable variety, which means that the person I care the most about, my baby daughter, was ineligible for the vaccine. But at least for now, her parents won't be passing on the flu.
Earlier in the day, we did a little recon at the high school and saw a long line stretching outside the building. So, we finished my morning chores and came back around 1:30 p.m. At that point, we walked right in, filled out a short form and waited in line. I noticed a police presence, and volunteers literally sat at empty desks waiting for us. The worker who gave me the nasal spray vaccine told me that they had plenty of vaccines for the day, but had I come first thing in the morning, I could've expected the process to take at least two hours.
Frankly, I'm relived and heartened by the entire process -- once inside the school. I'm still peeved that they didn't tell the public the exact number of vaccines available until the day of, nor did the state's Swine Flu Web site offer live (or near-live) updates on its stockpile. I wonder why it was only available in two locations in the entire city, too, and why a flurry of last-minute information was expected to be accurately disseminated by local media (it wasn't; having read the fax, I saw at least one TV report that incorrectly advised infants and pregnant moms to come out for the spray vaccine).
Still, in the end, it worked -- for us, at least. I can't honestly tell you that I'm 100 percent comfortable with being the "canary in the coal mine" on such a new vaccine, but on the other hand, this is one case in which my inner-conspiracy theorist will take a backseat to science. Now, I'm anxiously awaiting news on when the injectable virus will come to town so I can immunize our baby, too. I hope the organization of that clinic is more straightforward -- and the clinic, itself, is just as well-run.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
