UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The first Oneida County H1N1 vaccine clinic opened at 10 a.m. today to long lines. By the time the doors opened, several hundred people were waiting in line, many with small children. Some arrived before 8 a.m.

The county has 1500 doses of the vaccine; a combination of the nasal spray and the shot. They hope that's enough for everyone waiting in line.

"We've asked the public really to honor the requests of the CDC, the state department of health, the Oneida County Health Department and the President of the United States who said that under the circumstances, with limited supply of vaccine, we ask the public allow those people who are most vulnerable and most at risk from complications from H1N1 to get the vaccination first," says county health department spokesperson Ken Fanelli.

Those priority groups include:
- Pregnant women
- Children six months to 18-years of age
- Parents and caregivers of children under six months of age
- Persons 19 to 24 years of age
- Those people 25 to 64 years of age who at risk for medical complications due to underlying conditions
- Healthcare workers, nurses, and emergency services personnel who have direct patient contact

Fanelli says that, at 2 p.m., assuming the doses last that long, the health department will give a card to the last person waiting in line, and that no one will be served after that person.

He says there will be other clinics, but probably not until after the health department goes into the schools and vaccinates the students. He is hopeful that will happen by the end of November.