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Local Clinics Welcome New Business H1N1 Vaccine Brings

POSTED: 5:13 pm PST November 3, 2009
UPDATED: 6:42 pm PST November 3, 2009

The long lines for the swine flu vaccine could mean long waits and slower service for other patients, but the rush for the vaccine could actually help smaller clinics' business, 10News reported.

While the vaccine takes less than a minute to administer, the wait for patients with other ailments is taking longer.

Cara Dinote of the Lakes Urgent & Family Medical Center in Chula Vista said, "It's making the other patients have to wait longer because we take these flu vaccines on a walk-in basis."

The clinic has been inundated with swine flu vaccine requests since they received an allotment last month. The demand and the long wait have also made it harder on the staff.

"Definitely working later and working through lunch or double-booking people," said Dinote.

However, the long hours and the double-booking could be worth it, as the swine flu vaccine has also meant new customers are coming through the doors.

"It's been good for business. I would say it's been very good for business, to get more people in the door," said Dinote.

Half the people coming to the Lakes Urgent & Family Medical Center the last few weeks wanted to be vaccinated, and most of them were first-time patients.

"Yeah, a lot of patients who are not patients, or we have current patients, or we have current patients or their friends and family members coming in," said Dinote.

While the vaccine is free, it could lead to future business. 10News contacted several other clinics that have the vaccine, and they also experienced delays with regular patients. However, some clinics said they are happy for the business.

"It gives us exposure to new patients," said Dinote.

Lakes Urgent & Family Medical Center received 1,200 doses of the spray vaccine in October, and that supply is almost gone.

The clinic expects to receive 600 doses of the H1N1 injection this week, but they don't expect that supply to last very long.
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