By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

"Owwww."

Four-year-old Kendra Ryan pouted a little, but was brave as she received a seasonal flu shot at Hays Medical Center on Sunday afternoon. She was giggling just a few minutes later, playing with her father, Justin Ryan, after receiving a treat for her courage.

The Ryan family traveled to Hays from Brownell on Sunday morning for the hospital's annual drive-through flu shot event, which offers free vaccinations. The family attends the community clinic almost every year.

"Because it's free," Janae Ryan said. "It's convenient because it's on a weekend when you're not working, and you don't have to take time out of your work."

Thousands of area residents rushed to Hays Med, most of them never having to leave their vehicle. Traffic was directed around the Center for Health Improvement, and injections were administered through car windows.

Children were sent to the CHI gym, where they and their parents could be vaccinated.

This year's event was postponed about two months due to a delay in vaccine shipment. Production of the seasonal flu vaccine was slowed so the H1N1 vaccine could be manufactured.

About 3,000 doses of vaccine were available for this year's clinic. The hospital originally had 2,000 doses and received another shipment last week.

Traffic was moving quickly shortly after noon, when the event was scheduled to start.

Cars began lining up before 11 a.m., and the clinic started 30 minutes early due to backed-up traffic, said Dr. Ken Lindsey, the hospital's chief medical officer.

The hospital had about 70 employees and volunteers to administer the vaccine and keep traffic moving efficiently.

"It's going really smooth, and we don't have much of a line at all outside on Canterbury," he said.

Hays Med already had administered thousands of vaccine doses to high-risk patients, which could have reduced the demand for Sunday's free event.

For those still needing a shot, however, the shorter lines were much-appreciated, said Greg Horlick, a Hays resident who has attended the event two consecutive years with his family.

"I think it's awesome that Hays Medical Center puts this on every year for people," Horlick said. "It's actually a nice savings for us, too. It's at least a $50 savings for our family in this kind of tighter time. So I think it's a great public service."