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H1N1 flu-shot clinic draws hundreds, but isn't much of a business booster for Shore Mall
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EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - Emelia Scimitari rubbed her right arm, right on the spot where she had just received her H1N1 vaccination.
The 2-year-old had tears running down her cheeks and held her father's hand as they walked to the post-shot waiting area.
"OK?" she sobbingly asked her father, Mark.
"OK," he replied.
"All done?" Emelia asked.
"All done," he answered.
Emelia was one of about 800 people who received an H1N1 vaccination Thursday at the Atlantic County-run clinic held in the former Value City store at the Shore Mall. The clinic was for children ages 16 months to 18 years and pregnant women.
Thursday's clinic went smoothly: About 300 people were vaccinated in the first hour. The process took about 20 minutes per person.
Atlantic County officials said they did not know how many people to expect Thursday. Officers from the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office were stationed in the mall to handle any problems.
County Sheriff Frank Balles said the only disruption occurred when a man repeatedly insisted on getting a shot. Balles said authorities eventually convinced the man to leave the mall.
The county will hold a second clinic for the same group from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Shore Mall site. Officials with the Atlantic County Division of Health, which had 2,400 doses of the H1N1 vaccine ready for both clinics, said they expect larger crowds Saturday.
Thursday's clinic was the first run by Atlantic County, and the biggest turnout came early.
At least 20 people were waiting when the mall opened its doors at 7 a.m. The number reached about 200 when county officials let people in the clinic site 15 minutes before the scheduled 9 a.m. start time.
The system worked smoothly: People were called by number from a waiting area to registration stations before proceeding to lines of tables for the shots. There was one line for pregnant women, and other lines handled children by age groups.
Mel and Jodie Cortellessa, of Absecon, and their 4-year-old twins, Ellie and Brianna, got to the mall at 7:30 a.m., hoping the early arrival would cut down their waiting time.
"We're hoping we don't have to wait too long with the kids," Josie Cortellessa said.
The family came prepared: They set up folding chairs so they could be comfortable while waiting in line and had bags of coloring books, cards and games to keep the children busy.
Mall operators said when the clinics were first announced that they hoped the people who showed up for the vaccinations would do some shopping and use the facility's food services.
Michelle Chen opened her Big Dipper ice cream and yogurt shop at 7 a.m. instead of the usual 10 a.m. in the hope of getting some early business.
"It's a little early yet for business, but I'm hoping it picks up later," she said.
A jewelry store and a Boardwalk Fries kiosk also opened early.
Mall-wide, the results were mixed.
Viola Youssef, who works at the 4M For Kids clothes store, said some people stopped and bought shoes and dresses.
"It has made the mall busy," she said of the crowds.
However, other merchants reported little to no business related to the flu-shot crowd.
"I expected to see more because of it," GameStop manager Ted Henderson said.
At the food court, Cheryl DiMaio said the owners of the Gyromania eatery doubled the food order for the day in hopes of getting extra customers. The result was about $8 in additional sales, she said.
DiMaio said business was the same for other food court operators.
"We're hoping Saturday will be a lot busier," she said.
Contact Thomas Barlas:
609-272-7201
Posted in ATLANTIC on Friday, November 20, 2009 2:45 am
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