Free swine flu shots cause major traffic jam in Redondo Beach

Thousands of people showed up at a free H1N1 flu shot clinic in Redondo Beach on Saturday, causing cars to back up for miles, overwhelming organizers and police, and angering many people who waited in their cars for hours only to be turned away when the vaccines ran out.

[biker]

proof that Angelenos won't get out of their cars even to save their lives

[ABC]

I agree "biker". Reminds me of the song lyrics "nobody walks in LA"

[Joe]

Wait a sec... a government agency couldn't even organize a line of cars to *free* medical services?

[Irate]

Reposting this from the "Swine flu vaccinations now available" article. Some of this was covered in the article.

This has been the most poorly organized event that I have ever experienced. To begin with, I called the contact person with BCHD earlier in the week and was informed that people shouldn't arrive until 8:45 at the earliest because they would be cited otherwise. Apparently the memo wasn't received, because while waiting in line, I heard stories of people waiting since 5:00. Then, we have the issue of there being a line snaking down Beryl, turning onto Flagler and going to Redbeam. Only problem is that Torrance PD blocked off Redbeam before Del Amo and didn't bother telling people that had been waiting for hours that they weren't in the proper line. Then you have the issue of every street anywhere near Del Amo being completely backed up. I even called Redondo Beach PD to ask for traffic control on Beryl, and I was completely blown off. There should have been a set route included in press releases so that people could find the correct place to line up, and there should have in fact been citations handed out for people blocking local streets hours before the event began.

[Linda]

The article did not fully convey the unexpected mess this created in West Torrance on Del Amo Blvd and Anza Ave. The Torrance PD had to block most entrances to our neighborhood around Towers Elementary School for several hours until they got the thing under control. It's not our Police Department's fault if people waited in a line that ultimately didn't get them a flu shot. It looked like the police weren't given any notice of this monstrous event. I agree with the guy in the article who said they need to do this in a bigger location next time. I hope we're compensated for this. Geesh!

[Obamarama]

This is a special preview your Government Run Healthcare...we're doomed.

[JoeReader]

I suggest getting the flu shot at the rec center in Wilmington at 325 Neptune Ave.

I went there today (sat) at 3pm and it was a 10 minute wait (40 people in line). It's open from 9am to 5pm Sunday.

[New idea]

Why waste fuel waiting in line?
Have government agency work with business (wow, what an idea?) where people go a huge mall (Del Amo) and at least while they're waiting in line the retailers can offer samples, incentives, advertising, etc. and more importantly, folks have something to do. But, wrist bands would have to be given away once you're in line to prevent cutters.... No wasted fuel, something to do while you watch the line slowly move, retailers get something out of it and consumers aren't sitting on Del Amo Blvd. like me with 3 kids for 1:55 & didn't go .25 mile! There has to be a better way and the governemnt certainly won't find it!

[VOICE OF REASON]

Free is what brought the crowds. They never should have advertised it as FREE. A nominal charge of $10.00 per person - dropped into a locked box would have eliminated two thirds of the crowd. I've seen people pushing and shoving for a free cup of cheap coffee let alone a free shot.

Shame on you Beach Cities Health Distict & you too RBPD for not being prepared.

[MLD-Wilmington]

VOICE OF REASON wrote:

Free is what brought the crowds. They never should have advertised it as FREE. A nominal charge of $10.00 per person - dropped into a locked box would have eliminated two thirds of the crowd. I've seen people pushing and shoving for a free cup of cheap coffee let alone a free shot.
Shame on you Beach Cities Health Distict & you too RBPD for not being prepared.

This is actually a very good idea. It's something that BCHD should consider.

[MLD-Wilmington]

JoeReader wrote:

I suggest getting the flu shot at the rec center in Wilmington at 325 Neptune Ave.
I went there today (sat) at 3pm and it was a 10 minute wait (40 people in line). It's open from 9am to 5pm Sunday.

Thanks for the info... I completely forgot about it. I will be there tomorrow!

[StanDarsh]

I brought my 3 year old daughter to the vaccination event today because she is in a high risk group and we haven't been able to get a vaccine to date through our primary care physicians. We drove down early in the afternoon (Beach Cities Health District suggested that we get to the clinic after 11 a.m. when I called for timing advice the day before - they suspected already that they were going to get inundated early)and were unable to proceed north on Prospect beyond Torrance Blvd. because of the very long line of cars. I overheard a police officer telling someone in front of me it could be a two hour wait: needless to say, I had to turn around and forget trying to get the vaccination under those conditions with my 3 year old daughter in the car.

Why is the government making vaccine available for the first time in the South Bay to just anyone without prioritizing according to degree of risk? If the vaccine was made available to individuals in high risk groups only (e.g. children under 18 years of age, adults with certain chronic conditions, and health care workers), there would have been a more reasonable crowd and the people who need it most may have had a shot at receiving it.

To date, our pediatrician, our family practice group and local hospital workers do not have the vaccine yet. I tried calling all three yesterday (I have been calling for weeks now) to try and get the vaccine - I am repeatedly being told to "call back again next week".

[sparky]

VOICE OF REASON wrote:

Free is what brought the crowds. They never should have advertised it as FREE. A nominal charge of $10.00 per person - dropped into a locked box would have eliminated two thirds of the crowd. I've seen people pushing and shoving for a free cup of cheap coffee let alone a free shot.
Shame on you Beach Cities Health Distict & you too RBPD for not being prepared.

no, shame on the people from outside the south bay that clogged our streets and expect free stuff. dirtbags

[Interesting]

Guess this all goes to prove that the government's tactics are working. First, they scare us to death by reporting that if we don't get the flu shot we're going to die. Then, they make sure they don't have enough vaccine to go around. That way they have another story to scare us with. Way to go guys. What's next? Going to tell us about an anticipated sunami and send us to stores with only a few lifejackets? The only surprise here is that people keep electing them to office.

[RB Surfer]

My pregnant wife and I arrived at 7:30 am because my wife had tried to get the vaccine in Culver City the day before and they ran out of the thimerosal-free versions. It was already a HUGE mess at 7:30.

There was absolutely NO excuse for such poor pathetic planning! The simple fact that other places the day before were overwhelmed should've been a wake up call for the local authorities. To say you didn't anticipate such a huge turn out is unexcusable. Watch the news! Read the newspaper! They should have had an emergency meeting Friday night to re-think their plans.

It's simple, really.

Charge a nominal fee to help pay for the costs. Set out predetermined line and pass out flyers that showed where the line would start and where to form.

As long as people know where to line up, they will be patient and not be angered if it runs out. There were people lined up everywhere! There was no order. My wife and I thankfully left because we thought it was stupid to be in a line for hours that could possibly go nowhere since there wasn't an official line.

Once they publicize an official route, they can poll each car and get an idea of which cars they need to turn away because there would not be enough vaccine. You'll have less angry people!

Thank goodness, my wife and I decided to go to Wilmington instead. They were smarter and didn't try to form a "car line". They separated pregnant women and rightfully gave them priority. They were a little slow in the beginning and had a few hiccups, but soon had things rolling.

There was no excuse for this lack of planning. None at all.

[Torrance Mom]

VOICE OF REASON wrote:

Free is what brought the crowds. They never should have advertised it as FREE. A nominal charge of $10.00 per person - dropped into a locked box would have eliminated two thirds of the crowd. I've seen people pushing and shoving for a free cup of cheap coffee let alone a free shot.
Shame on you Beach Cities Health Distict & you too RBPD for not being prepared.

It's not because it was free, it is because people don't want to get out of their cars to stand in line. I got a free seasonal flu shot at a community center on Knob Hill a couple of weeks ago and the wait was minimal. I was tempted myself to take my kids there to get their H1N1 shots since their pediatrican won't have any until November and I thought it would be easier than standing in line with them. Thankfully, I stayed away from this nightmare.

[Huh]

Oh fer crying out loud. Park the cars and walk in, you lazy farks.

I wonder how many of those waiting in line scold others about climate change?

[Anonymous]

The government has mishandled this from the beginning. There has been a big panic created by the media which has prompted people to become paranoid about this. These early vaccines should have been given to medical professionals first; then distributed to OB/GYN offices; and then given administered at schools to ensure that children, including those without medical insurance, will be covered. If these clinics are going to be held, then there should be a resident requirement.

[CBW]

This one is EASY!!! Since Beach Cities Health District EXCLUDES services to anyone who DOES NOT LIVE IN REDONDO BEACH, they are at fault for not limiting the vaccines to Redondo Beach Residents ONLY, and requiring the showing of Driver's Licenses as proof of residency since it was a DRIVE-THRU Clinic!

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out!!!

[RB Mom]

sparky wrote:

<quoted text>
no, shame on the people from outside the south bay that clogged our streets and expect free stuff. dirtbags

Not only those from out of the area, but people that HAVE insurance. This was a free shot to those people that DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. I agree with the other poster that said OB/GYN's should have also been given the vaccine first. Traffic was a nightmare for hours anywhere within a half mile of the hospital. My son needed to get the shot, we gave up at 9:15, after my husband walked up to the hospital, and was told they were going to run out before they'd get to him. They also had a WALK UP line, which the advertisment said ABSOLUTELY NO WALK UPS. What a disappointment all the way around.