Park Nicollet shuts down flu-shot appointment line

The clinic shut down its flu-shot appointment line today after it was flooded with 120,000 calls in a four-hour period this morning.

By MAURA LERNER, Star Tribune

Last update: October 26, 2009 - 2:59 PM

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Park Nicollet Clinic shut down its flu-shot appointment line today after it was flooded with 120,000 calls in a four-hour period this morning.

The clinic, which announced over the weekend that it had a shipment of the H1N1 vaccine, said its phone system was overwhelmed with callers trying to make appointments. Most never got through, said Jeremiah Whitten, a clinic spokesman. He said 120,000 calls were "deflected," or unable to get through, between 7 am. and 11 a.m.

The clinic is now asking patients to request appointments by email by sending their name and phone number only to flushot@parknicollet.com.

For now, the clinic will give vaccine only to the patients at highest risk for the H1N1 or swine flu: pregnant women, children 6 months to 4 years old; and young people 5 to 18 with chronic conditions or weakened immune system.

The clinic said it plans to offer the vaccine to other groups at a later date, when more supplies arrive.

Maura Lerner • 612-673-7384

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