Officials: 2,500 could be vaccinated for hepatitis this weekend

CHARLOTTE — Saturday, lines poured out of a mock clinic set up at CPCC's Cato Campus in East Charlotte.  Before the doors even opened, people were already lined up.  Some hoped they wouldn't be turned away like some were Friday night.
   
"It made me get here a little bit earlier. Hopefully they'll be better prepared today," said Jacqueline Tarr who lined up Saturday morning. 

Health workers said 5,000 extra hepatitis A vaccines arrived Friday to treat people who may have been exposed to the disease at the Papa Johns Pizza Restaurant on Cambridge Commons Drive.

On Thursday, we told you a manager at the store was diagnosed with the illness.  It's commonly spread through contaminated food.

Health officials said they didn't know exactly how many people may have been exposed, but they said they could vaccinate as many as 2,500 between Saturday and Monday.

Friday, they treated 800 people.

"We're not 100 percent sure how many people will show up, we're ready for anything," said Marcus Plescia, director of Mecklenburg Counties Health Department.

Saturday they warned people who ate at the restaurant between March 24 and April 7 to get treatment soon.  They said the vaccine is only effective in those treated within 14 days of exposure.

If you think you need to get a shot, the health department willb e giving them out at Central Piedmont Community College's Cato Campus on Grier Road.  They will be there from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 4 to 8 p.m. at Mecklenburg County and Cabarrus County Health Department Offices.

WSOC