Harrisburg, Pa. - The state Department of Health on Friday opened nearly 20 swine flu clinics across the state and expects to give the vaccine to as many as 100,000 people through Sunday.

State health officials said they are prepared to vaccinate at least 13,000 people considered most at-risk for the virus at the Kline Village shopping center in Harrisburg alone. Even though the lines were long at the district office, there were no complaints from Mark Allshouse of York, who waited about 15 minutes.

"I've had the seasonal flu shot too and actually my seasonal flu shot was more painful than this one," Allshouse said.

People considered most at risk are individuals between the ages of six months and 24 years, caregivers for children younger than six months, pregnant women, health care providers and EMS personnel, and people under 65 with health complications.

Erin Stauffer of York had her two young children vaccinated. "We weren't real thrilled about having the shots," Stauffer said," We had a little bit of crying before we came up here. When we got here they seemed to be OK."

The lines were long at another clinic in Chambersburg. "If we are picking up a lot of swine flu patients, we have to protect ourselves," EMT Steve Cummings said.

Health Deputy Secretary Michael Huff said the vaccinations are a start for Pennsylvania, but that's all. "We've been very disappointed in the number of doses across the country that have been distributed to state health departments and we are still about a million short of what was anticipated," he said.

The state said the clinics will continue throughout the weekend. Those who wish to receive a vaccine must register at www.h1n1inpa.com.

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