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WHEELING - None of the 160 people who received the swine flu vaccine Monday in Ohio County reported feeling negative side effects, health officials said.

The H1N1 vaccine shots were administered to health care workers during the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department's first mass inoculation clinic for the virus. Participants included school nurses, fire department medics, some physicians and nurses who work in doctors' offices.

"I think it went very smoothly. I didn't hear any complaints," Nursing Supervisor Becky Beckett said, crediting the planning of Wayland Harris, threat preparedness coordinator.

Administrator Howard Gamble also was pleased with the first clinic. He noted the health department is scheduled to receive another batch of vaccine this week, which expected to be used to inoculate students at one of Ohio County's schools. The clinic likely will occur next week, but a date won't be released until the vaccine arrives.

During Monday's clinic, Gamble said, a small number of people were turned away because they were not health care workers who have direct contact with patients or infectious materials.

While waiting to administer another shot, nurse Sharon Welch noted she participated in mass swine flu vaccination clinics in 1976. She worked at the Brooke County Health Department at the time and said courtrooms at the county courthouse were used for those clinics.

"We had to go to Charleston and pick up the vaccine. The government gave us shots down there, and then we brought it back," Welch said of her past experience.

This time, the federally funded vaccine is being shipped to county health departments from the state health bureau.

Much like today, Welch said back then many people were wary about receiving the vaccine. But she believes after the first clinic, people's fears should decrease. "We didn't have all this extra fancy stuff like we do now," Welch said, referring to the signage and ropes to help patients get through the clinic.

A swine flu clinic for health care workers also was held Monday in Jefferson County, where another is slated from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Jefferson Community College, 4000 Sunset Blvd, Steubenville.

Gamble noted a second health care worker clinic may be held in Ohio County at a later date.

Meanwhile, two local hospitals are implementing new flu control measures: Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville and Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale.

At Wetzel County, visitors are being asked to use sanitizing hand wipes at the hospital's entrance and to "refrain from touching any surfaces in the hospital as much as possible." Also, those with colds or flu-like symptoms are asked not to visit the hospital. People coming to the hospital to be treated for flu symptoms must disinfect their hands, wear a mask and not visit other patients.

Children younger than 12 years old must wear a mask when visiting a patient and must be accompanied by an adult. And patients with flu-like symptoms can only have one visitor and must wear a mask when a visitor is present.

At Reynolds Memorial, patients can only have two visitors at a time. Children younger than 12 years old are discouraged from visiting patients there.

Both hospitals also urge people to continue washing their hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.