H1N1 clinic volunteers take their bows

Volunteers who assisted with the H1N1 vaccination clinics over the past six months in New Milford were honored with a Feb. 24 thank you luncheon by the town's Health Department and the New Milford Visiting Nurse Association.

The lunch was held at the St. John's Episcopal Church parish hall.

Numerous clinics were held from mid-October through mid-January. Several organizations -- the town's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), New Milford Hospital, New Milford public schools and the Roxbury EMS assisted with the coordination of some of the clinics.

Michael Crespan, the New Milford health department director, said the town's "intensive effort" was successful, with a total of 4,875 vaccines administered.

Of that number, 3,401 were administered to children aged 18 and under. In addition to the public clinics, Mr. Crespan said the health department was "one of the few to organize clinics for pregnant women."