Clara Durflinger has had little reason to visit Free State High School since it opened in 1997.

But she went to the school Friday. Durflinger wanted to find out where she had to go today to get a flu shot.

“They don’t give you much choice,” Durflinger said. “The television kind of puts the scare in you. Everywhere, people are getting to their locations earlier and earlier to get a shot, and when they only have ‘X’ amount and they can’t tell you if they’re going to get any more, it makes you nervous.”

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is conducting a clinic to vaccinate people in high-risk groups as designated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The flu shot clinic is at Free State, 4700 Overland Drive.

How many people will turn out is unknown, said health department spokeswoman Janelle Martin. But she heard that people, like Durflinger, have visited Free State this week to plan their attack.

And Durflinger said she probably would be in line by 7 a.m. today — if not earlier.

The nation’s supply of influenza vaccine was suddenly cut in half earlier this month when British regulators shut down shipments from Chiron Corp., which produced millions of flu shots for the U.S. market. The problem caused the CDC to pull back flu vaccine.

Carole Rehder, a registered nurse at Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, sets up inoculation stations in the Free State High School gym. Assisting Rehder, from left, are Kansas University pharmacy students Helena Yoon, Seoul, Korea, and Alison Winkelman, Great Bend.

In Douglas County, officials ordered 6,800 vaccine doses for the flu season but received just more than 1,000.

Martin said about 40 health care workers and 200 volunteers would assist at today’s clinic.

Shot-seekers should enter through the northeast doors of the high school, where they will be given an eligibility form to explain why they qualify for a shot. Physicians and licensed medical practitioners also will be available for medical screenings if needed.

“Once you receive the paperwork, you have a flu shot,” Martin said. “People can take their time to fill it out.”

If a person doesn’t get a shot today, there still could be a flu shot for them in the future, Martin said. The health department has set up a clearinghouse to answer questions about the availability of flu vaccine.

People can call 843-0721 and receive information from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

“What we’re hoping is you can save the public from making a dozen phone calls to find out where that is available,” Martin said.

Physician’s offices and pharmacies are working with the health department to make sure shots are going to people in the CDC priority groups, she said. If other groups receive additional doses of flu vaccine, they will notify the health department.

Clips of audio interview with Janelle Martin, spokeswoman for Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department: What will the clinic be like? What is the clearing house that can be called to find vaccine? 6News video: Health Department to administer flu shots Poll finds widespread worry over flu shots (10-23-04) Flu-shot clinic may miss those in direst need (10-21-04) FDA searches worldwide for additional flu vaccine (10-20-04) Seniors hope for flu vaccine (10-19-04) 6News video: Flu vaccine will be made available to seniors Common questions about flu season (10-11-04) Turns out Mom knows best when it comes to flu (10-10-04) Price gouging reported in flu shots (10-9-04) Hunt is on for flu shots (10-7-04) 6News video: ‘Flu-X’ continues in face of vaccine shortage (10-6-04) Flu shot supply cut just as season starts (10-06-04) 6News video: Flu vaccine supplier stopped short (10-5-04) ‘Flu-X’ trains for outbreak (09-13-04)