NATCHEZ &045; After hours in line, 566 at-risk Adams County residents received flu shots Tuesday morning. The latecomers to the line did without.

The Natchez High School multi-purpose building was transformed into a makeshift clinic, closed to reporters and to everyone other than workers and the six to 10 currently getting their shot, leaving the rest out in the cold.

&uot;It’s a shame we have to stand here,&uot; Reba Lum said around 8:30 a.m. &uot;The hospitals will be full of sick people after this.&uot;

The majority of the crowd was over 65 but others with health problems fitting into the at-risk category were in line as well.

Lum and her friends said they’d been in line since about 6:30 a.m. Temperatures Tuesday morning were in the mid-50s.

The shots were the second round of the flu vaccine designated for the at-risk amid the national vaccine shortage. Mississippi recently received 50,000 vaccines to be distributed Tuesday and today.

&uot;I was expecting it to be a little better organized,&uot; said Betty Wilborne, in line since 7:30 a.m.

Though some gave up their spots in favor of warm houses and faith in their immune systems, most stuck it out for the long haul.

&uot;I’m going to have to stay,&uot; Clara Byrd said. &uot;My doctor called and said to make sure I get it. I’m going to try.&uot;

JoAnn Mullins came prepared with a chair, a book and a crossword puzzle, but still said she wasn’t expecting the line to be the way it was.

&uot;I expected us to be inside and have a number,&uot; she said. &uot;I’m high risk, so if I think there’s any chance (of getting the shot) I’ll stay.&uot;

Katherine Killelea stood in line from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. before being forced to leave to take care of other business in town. She returned at 10:30 a.m. to start at the end of the line, still around 200 people strong.

&uot;I probably won’t be serviced,&uot; she said. &uot;But my husband sent me back.&uot;

Though officials with the state health department would not confirm that Natchez ran out of vaccines with people still in line they did say there were no more vaccines to be given out today.

The flu shots cost $15 each.

Health department workers also administered 84 pneumonia shots Tuesday.