MOUNT PLEASANT - Cups of coffee and breakfast at hand, hundreds of people waited for H1N1 vaccinations outside the doors of Case High School on Saturday morning.

The doors to the school, 7345 Washington Ave., opened a little before 9 a.m. for the county's first public H1N1 vaccination clinic, said Sarah Clemons, City of Racine Health Department public information officer.

There were about 1,000 vaccinations administered by 11 a.m. and about 485 in the hour before the clinic closed at 3 p.m., she said. A total of about 2,220 vaccines were administered Saturday, with 3,780 remaining, according to officials.

Rene Fuentes, 47, of Racine, was first in line. He said he and his 23-year-old son got to the school at about 3 a.m. to wait in line for his 21-month-old grandsons. He said they anticipated a large crowd, which was the reason for their early-morning arrival at the school.

"They're pretty healthy but we'd rather have them get the shots just to be safe," he said.

Mike Mioduszewski, 47, of Racine, said he, too, got there a little after 3 a.m. to beat the crowd. He was holding the place for his 8-year-old son with asthma.

"Just trying to avoid health complications," said his wife, Inga.

About 6,000 free vaccinations were available during the Saturday clinic jointly held by the City of Racine, Caledonia-Mount Pleasant and Western Racine County health

departments.

Health officials expected large crowds Saturday, and about 90 volunteers and a dozen police officers from Racine, Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant police departments were on-site to help with the clinic and crowd control.

But the lines withered after the initial crowd in the morning, said Lt. Jim Dobbs of the Racine Police Department at about 11:30 a.m.

The county's first round of vaccines were for pregnant women, health care and emergency medical personnel, children 6 months to 4 years old and youths ages 5 to 18 with chronic medical conditions who were at-risk for flu-related complications. People who live or provide care for infants 6 months or younger also were eligible for vaccines Saturday. Those not in the target population or with fevers were turned away.

After waiting for an hour and a half, Lonnie Ruge, 70, of Racine, was turned away Saturday morning.

"If I don't get (the shot), I'm dead," said Ruge, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. "I've been trying to get the shot since October. I just have to wait until I can get it, I guess."

Bob Sorenson, 64, of Racine, said he was upset and angry after he and his wife, Dian, who has Lou Gehrig's Disease, were initially turned away Saturday morning.

"What happens if she gets sick between now and then?" he said.

He noted there were no lines at about 10 a.m. and wondered why they couldn't get the vaccines because they "can't afford to get sick."

Then, later in the afternoon, he said they heard the clinic was offering vaccinations to those outside the initially defined target population. So they went back and were able to receive their vaccines before the clinic closed at 3 p.m., he said.

"We didn't have as many people as we anticipated ... so we were able to vaccinate some additional people," Clemons said.

With 3,780 vaccines remaining, she said the three health departments are planning another one-day clinic for this weekend in western Racine County. She said details on the target population and exact location and time will be announced sometime early this week.