Daily News Photos by CRISTIAN SIMESCU A crowd gathers to register Monday for Careforce 2009 at the Sunshine Mall on St. Croix.

ST. CROIX - More than 1,200 people crowded Sunshine Mall in Frederiksted on Monday to take advantage of free health care services as Careforce began its 2009 campaign.

Careforce, mainly sponsored by HOVENSA, along with United Healthcare, V.I. Medical Institute, V.I. National Guard, AARP, the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation and the V.I. Health Department, provided flu shots and health screenings with the help of 60 volunteers, as they have on the island since 2000. Nursing students from the University of the Virgin Islands and the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center also helped at the event.

The program continues from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the D.C. Canegata Multi-Purpose Center in Christiansted. Screenings also will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday on St. Thomas at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday at the Lutheran Church of Reformation in Estate Tutu.

On St. John, the program will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at St. Ursula's Episcopal Church.

The Health Department administered H1N1 flu shots - commonly known as swine flu - to priority groups on Monday and they will be available on Thursday at the Careforce events on St. Thomas and St. John. The department will be administering the shots again on St. Croix to priority groups Saturday at Charles Harwood Medical Complex in Christiansted.

Registered nurse Keila Maldonado, left, administers a shot.

Because of limited doses of the swine flu vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that the first round of vaccines go to people who fall into these priority categories:

- Pregnant women.

- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months.

- Health-care and emergency medical services personnel who are directly involved in patient care.

- Children ages 6 months to 4 years.

- Children, ages 5 through 18, who have chronic medical conditions.

The seasonal flu shot will be available to everyone along with all other health services at all Careforce events.

On Monday, volunteers also checked program participants for pneumonia, glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure. Foot and dental exams also were provided.

Dr. Cora Christian, V.I. Medical Institute medical director, HOVENSA chief medical consultant and a member on the National Board for AARP, said she has helped organize the event since its inception.

"I think what's really important is that people are understanding the process that this is a force that cares for people," Christian said. "It's a collaboration of public, private, military, civilian, retired and working people."

"I am happy we're all here because this is what helps people stay healthy," she said. "This is what saves lives. This is what the community is about."

Victor Somme III took his daughters to get the H1N1 shots. "I think this is a wonderful thing Careforce does for our community," Somme said.

Health Department program administrator Julie Canegata said the department enjoys participating in programs like the one held Monday.

Lissette Freire, director of diversity initiatives with United Healthcare, a health and well-being company based in Minneapolis, Minn., said the company was proud to support the work that Careforce does.

"The work that Cora does is consistent with our mission to live healthier lives," Freire said.

The company brought a certified diabetes educator and a clinical pharmacist to lead one-on-one consultations with program participants.

Pharmacists from Kmart and Plaza Extra also passed on critical information about medications to program participants.

- Contact Cristian Simescu at 774-8772 ext. 459 or e-mail simescu@dailynews.vi.