Nov 19, 2007 5:47 pm US/Mountain
Over 10,000 Get Free Flu Shots In Pandemic Drill
DENVER (CBS4/AP) ―
More than 10,000 people got their flu shots Saturday as part of a mass vaccination exercise.
The state held a drill at 29 different locations, including Coors Field, to prepare health workers to deal with a possible flu pandemic.
"Exercises like this one at Coors Field occurred at 29 spots across the state," said Dr. Chris Urbina, Director of Denver Public Health. "It was a big coordinating effort with at least 20 different agencies participating here alone."
The shots were free.
A National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base in the Denver area helped deliver the vaccine statewide Friday, along with a private ground transportation firm. The helicopter logged about 550 miles as it went to sites in southeast and southern Colorado, said Dana Erpelding, training and exercise manager in the state health department.
The exercise was funded by a federal grant. A final report on how well it worked is due Jan. 3.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
