With four kids in tow bedecked in St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School gear, and another child on the way, Melissa Johnson sat in the crowded lobby of the Richmond County Health Department waiting to get the shot against the novel influenza A H1N1 virus.

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“We figured it was healthier to get it done,” she said. The shot distribution in Augusta comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that more than 30 million doses have been produced so far and the agency is hoping for a 10 million increase this week.

The Johnson family was among more than 100 people who showed up early to get the long awaited shots in Augusta. While many said they had heard concerns about the vaccine, they were outweighed by the threat of the virus itself.

“I just feel like it’s the right thing to do,” said Anna Remos, who had 2-year-old Lee in hand and Keira Marie, 7 1/2 months old, in a car seat at her feet as she stood in line waiting her turn.

Michelle Jones was among the earliest in line at 7:20 a.m. more than an hour before the clinic was scheduled to begin. She got the shot before daughter Tianna and son Matthew had to line up.

“It doesn’t hurt, baby,” she told Matthew, 6. “Come on.”

Matthew burst into tears afterward anyway.

“I’m proud of you,” his mother told him. “You did good.”

Stephanie and Trevor Richter of Augusta got the shot because 5-month-old Sebastian, sitting at their feet in a covered carrier, cannot.

“We want a barrier around him,” Mr. Richter said.

Those in line reflected the priority group that the health department is targeting with its first 1,500 shots - pregnant women, caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age, children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years old, adults ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions like diabetes or asthma, and health care workers.

As of today, there have been 31.8 million doses against the new virus produced, up from 26.6 million on Friday, with more expected later this week. Georgia has ordered nearly 700,000 doses so far and South Carolina is expecting nearly 150,000, according to state health departments.

The Augusta clinic at 950 Laney-Walker Blvd will be giving out shots until 4 p.m. today. The shots are free but some paperwork is required. Some nasal vaccine against the new virus is also still available.

Even though it caused a single tear to slip out of her left eye, 3-year-old Hannah Price sniffed up a nasal vaccine just like her mother, Sara.

“We did it,” Hannah said triumphantly.

“We sure did,” her mother said.