SIOUX CITY -- Almost 1,900 people received H1N1 flu vaccines at the Siouxland District Health Department's free H1N1 flu vaccination clinic Saturday at West Middle School.

"We had a pretty good turnout," said Chuck Cipperley, deputy director for the Siouxland District Health Department. "We had plenty of the vaccine. It was steady throughout and it worked out very well with the time open and the number of people we got in."

Fifteen to 20 people were lined up when he arrived at the clinic at 7 a.m., Cipperley said.

"They were lined up early," he said. "I think some people had to wait about an hour. We had no major problems and had fairly decent weather. It went very smooth."

Cipperley said the department had about 3,000 doses of the vaccine available and estimates 65 percent of the people vaccinated were school-aged children.

"There were some parents coming back with children for their second doses but we're unsure of how many," he said.

The Sioux City Community School District is relying on public clinics to get its nearly 14,000 students immunized against H1N1 flu and worked with the health department to hold the clinic Saturday. The district's Web site has information and downloadable consent forms in English and Spanish. Students younger than 18 must present a consent form signed by their parent to get vaccinated.

"The district is pleased that so many of our students took the opportunity to get vaccinated at this clinic," said Alison Benson, spokeswoman for the district. "We're thankful for our strong partnership with Siouxland District Health and encourage those students who have yet to be vaccinated to take the opportunity at one of the upcoming clinics."

Meanwhile, estimates place nearly 50,000 Woodbury County residents in one of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's five priority populations for the vaccine.

After Saturday's clinic the department has administered about 12,000 doses of the vaccine, including at Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools in Sioux City and in five rural school districts in Woodbury County, at a public clinic Saturday and another clinic Nov. 7 for two priority groups. A clinic for the Sergeant Bluff School District is set for Monday.

Upcoming Clinics

Dec. 5: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Long Lines Family Rec Center, 401 Gordon Drive.

Dec. 12: 9 a.m. to noon, Long Lines Family Rec Center.

Dec. 20: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Long Lines Family Rec Center.

Dec. 30: Noon to 3 p.m., Long Lines Family Rec Center.

Who's eligible? Those who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months, pregnant women, health care and emergency medical service workers, those between ages 6 months and 24 years and those ages 25-64 who have health conditions that put them at higher risk for complications from H1N1.

Consent requirement: To get a free H1N1 vaccination, you must fill out and sign a consent form; those younger than 18 must have their parent's signature. Consent forms in English and Spanish can printed from the Siouxland District Health Department Web site, siouxlanddistricthealth.org, or the Sioux City Community School District Web site, siouxcityschools.org. Forms are also available at the clinics.

For more information, call the health department's hot line at 712-234-3922 or the main number, 712-279-6119, or visit siouxlanddistricthealth.org.