NEWPORT-Approximately 400 people received H1N1 flu shots during a clinic at the Cocke County Health Department Tuesday evening.

Paula Campbell, assistant regional director of the East Tennessee Regional Health Office in Knoxville, said Cocke County residents streamed in for vaccinations, which were given during a four-hour period Tuesday.

"To me, that's a lot of people," she said. "But the staff in Cocke County does a great job. They have a good team who know how to get the job done. We appreciate you (The Newport Plain Talk) helping get the word out. I think that really helped in our participation."

Campbell said additional H1N1 vaccinations will be given in Cocke County when vaccines become available.

 "Right now the problem is getting the vaccine," she said. "We depleted our supply for Cocke County during Tuesday's clinic. We don't know when our next shipment will be. But, as soon as we get more in, we'll have another clinic."

Campbell said, from what she understands, health departments across the country are waiting on H1N1 vaccines.

So far, nearly 12,000 Tennessee residents have been reported with the flu, more than 2,000 in East Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Health strongly encourages high risk people, those who live with them, and all health care providers to get vaccinated every year. Those considered high risk for contracting the flu or experiencing its complications include:

• pregnant women;

• everyone age 50 or older;

• children age 6 months to 18 years;

• anyone with a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, lung or heart disease; and