Flu shot fever

      Word had spread that flu shots were available at Senator Dean Skelos's 2nd annual Golden Gathering and throngs of area seniors started assembling as early as 4 a.m., even though the event would not begin for another five hours. In cooperation with South Nassau Communities Hospital there were 1,100 flu shots given out at the Golden Gathering. To be eligible to receive the vaccine, seniors first had to meet Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, including being over 65 years of age.
      Filomena Wraith of Valley Stream got on line with her husband at 7:30 a.m. and was still waiting to get her vaccine at 10 a.m. She came prepared with a lawn chair, a blanket and a Nora Roberts novel to pass the time. She waited for her husband, who was further back in line, near the entrance to the Rec Center. "I got tired of moving my chair," she said.
      The 1,100 vaccines were a relatively substantial amount to be made available in one spot, according to Tom Dunham, spokesman for Sen. Skelos. Dunham said that when he arrived at the Rec Center at 5 a.m. there were already about 30 people in line. There were also 500 pneumonia vaccines administered. Since finding out on Thursday morning that they would definitely have the flu shots available, the senator's office expected the crowds.
      Coffee carts were there to help keep those on line warm in the early morning chill. After all the vaccines were given, a few hundred people still remained who did not get one. South Nassau Communities Hospital took their names and telephone numbers and plans to get in touch with them directly when the hospital gets more flu shots sometime in November.