Andrew Ellis 16, of Lawrence, was the first person to receive his H1N1 vaccine from Maria Ana Garza, who works for the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, at the first swine flu vaccine clinic this year in Douglas County. About 4,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine were on hand Oct. 21 at Coffin Sports Complex at Haskell University.

Young and old came by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department on Saturday morning to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine.

While the health department has conducted more than 30 H1N1 flu clinics in the past few months, this was the first clinic opened to the general public.

And people were eager to get the vaccine. A crowd about 50 feet long had formed before doors opened Saturday morning. But once the clinic started, wait times weren’t too long, Director Dan Partridge said. They started out about 30 to 45 minutes and were down to about 10 to 15 minutes by the time the clinic was shutting down.

In all, between 700 to 1,000 people came for the vaccine, the health department estimated. More than 30 people were on hand to help with the clinic.

Charlotte Marthaler, with the health department, said people are still becoming ill, being hospitalized and dying from the virus.

“We recommended if anyone wants to reduce the risk of getting H1N1 they come and get vaccinated,” she said.

The health department will conduct three more clinics next week.

• Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lecompton United Methodist Church, 302 Elmore, Lecompton.

• Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the health department, 200 Maine.

• Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the health department.

The vaccine is free.