The line was long, but the wait was short Saturday morning for people trying to get a dose of the dwindling supply of flu vaccine at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

Despite nationwide shortages of the vaccine, everybody who made it in to the Health Department offices, 200 Maine, between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday received a shot. Moreover, there was enough of the vaccine left so that more shots will be offered again Monday at the department, officials said.

Brian and Ashley Kingsley were worried when they arrived and went to the back of the line that the dosages might run out before their 2-year-old son, Miles, could get a shot.

“I was very concerned because he has asthma,” Ashley Kingsley said.

Miles had been sick a few weeks ago and wasn’t able to get a shot at the beginning of the season, Ashley said.

The Kingsleys had already made futile calls to Topeka and the Kansas City area looking for flu shots, thus, Mom and Dad said they were relieved after their son got his shot after a short wait. Miles, however, was in tears.

“No, he didn’t like it very well,” Ashley Kingsley said.

At least 100 people were in line when health workers began giving the shots; many of those in line had been waiting in their cars outside more than hour. Not everybody in line was there for a shot, however. Many were parents bringing their children or adults escorting their elderly parents.

Although a steady stream of people joined the line during the first 30 minutes after the shots began being administered, the line was down to only a few people an hour later.

Martha Brown holds her son Demontay Jones as he gets a flu shot from Linda Cowles, a registered nurse at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. More than a hundred high-risk people received flu shots Saturday at the Health Department.

With the shortage of dosages, the Health Department now is only giving the shots to people considered to be at high risk for getting the flu. That includes people age 65 and older; people with chronic health problems such as asthma and diabetes; children 6 months through 23 months old; and pregnant women in their second or third trimesters.

Health Department officials didn’t know how many people received shots Saturday. They began with 250 doses and have about 100 left. Vaccine dosages given to children vary, depending on age, they said.

The remaining vaccine will be available again for those at high risk starting at 8 a.m. Monday. The shots cost $15, although the department has said no one would be turned away for inability to pay.

Sue Neustifter, who retired last year as Douglas County register of deeds, arrived at the Health Department worried about getting her flu shot because she suffers from lung problems. She said she had forgotten to get it earlier and became concerned because of publicity about the nationwide flu epidemic.

Although Neustifter, 64, of Eudora, received her shot, she was prepared to miss out.

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“I’ll just try to work it out the best I can,” she said as she waited in line.

Healthy people who haven’t been able to get a flu shot should check with their physicians about the possibility of using FluMist, a new needle-free flu vaccine that is sprayed as a mist into the nose, Health Department officials said. The Health Department doesn’t administer FluMist.

There are a few simple measures to take to prevent the flu, officials said. Among them are covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and frequent handwashing.

“If you are sick, stay at home and don’t go to work or school and spread it around,” said Charlotte Marthaler, Health Department director of policy and planning.