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Hepatitis A vaccines run short after health alert

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Mecklenburg County Health Department on Friday had to turn people away from getting a free hepatitis A vaccine. A manager at the Papa John's on Cambridge Commons Drive found out Monday he was infected with the virus and now thousands could be infected, too.

LINK: CDC information on Hepatitis A. 
 
The line of people started growing at 4 p.m. when the health department started giving out the free hepatitis A vaccine.

Two hours later, officials started giving people a flyer asking them to come to one of the clinics being held this weekend.
 
"It's frustrating. I have to come back tomorrow," Christa Streiff said.
 
Streiff ate at the Papa John's food after March 28 so the vaccine will be effective, even if she gets it Saturday or Sunday.
 
But it was different for Nicole Brown. As she was being told to come back later, the health department realized she was possibly exposed March 28 and today is the last day a vaccine would be effective for her.

"I was actually kind of upset and trying not to show that because I feel like they should have maybe told us before," Brown said.

ARTICLE: Customers may have been exposed to hepatitis A at east Charlotte Papa John's
 
 
The Mecklenburg County Health Department said it was expecting an additional shipment of vaccines Friday but it won't arrive until Saturday.

LINK: Mecklenburg County Health Department updates

Clinics were held at the Mecklenburg and Cabbarrus County health departments and at Clear Creek Elementary Friday where 30 Papa John's pizzas were delivered for a movie night two weeks ago.
 
"There was no way we'd have enough vaccine for the demand we had here this afternoon," said Bobby Cobb, deputy director at the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
 
Cobb said they held a reserve amount of the vaccine for people like Brown who had to get the vaccine Friday.
 
William Howard told Eyewitness News the process should have been more organized.
 
"Infuriating," Howard said. "But I'm trying to be nice because I'm on camera."
 
The health department said 5,000 more vaccines will be in Charlotte by Saturday.

Papa John’s has set up a hotline to answer questions. Please call 855-397-7777.