Police Will Be Present at Mpls. H1N1 School Clinics

In the next couple weeks the Minnesota Department of Health plans to hold H1N1 flu shot clinics at dozens of Twin Cities schools. Minneapolis police plan to be present at seven of the clinics in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis health officials have been monitoring the situation around the country and are aware of the long lines and brewing frustration.

"Anytime people get together and are waiting for a scarce resource I think there's potential for anxiety," said Minneapolis Commissioner of Health Gretchen Musicant.

She said when the city holds after-school flu shot clinics there will be one or more Minneapolis police officers at each one in case of an emergency.

"It is reassuring to people to have a sense of order in a time when they are a little bit anxious. We also have traffic flow, people parking, moving, where should I start my line?," said Musicant

The clinics will start sometime during the week of Nov. 16.

They will be at seven elementary schools and are meant for students who are nine and younger and any siblings they have in that age range. The clinics will be in areas with a high population of people who are uninsured or underinsured and who can't go to another clinic.

The city would not say which schools will get the vaccine. They want to make sure they have a large enough supply before they start making those announcements.