FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- In many areas of the U.S., there is a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine, but Canadian citizens were pulling into a Fort Lauderdale vaccination clinic Wednesday by the carload to get immunized, Local 10's Jeff Weinsier reported.

The Broward County Health Department has transformed the National Guard Armory in Fort Lauderdale into a high-risk H1N1 vaccination clinic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.7 million doses of the vaccine have been shipped to Florida. Many Canadians were taking advantage of the free immunization at the Fort Lauderdale clinic Wednesday, Weinsier reported.

"It's hard to get it in Canada," said one patient.

The greeters at the clinic's door simply ask those who show up to use their Florida addresses on the paperwork. Weinsier reported seeing no background checks and no one asked for identification.

The H1N1 vaccine is free for everyone at the Armory. At places like Walgreens, there is a fee.

"Do you think the U.S. government should be paying for your free shot?" Weinsier asked one Canadian patient.

"Good question," the patient said.

"We are concerned about the health of our community and we want our community to be healthy. We are encouraging everyone in high priority groups to get vaccinated," said Candy Simms, of the Broward County Health Department.

The high priority groups include pregnant women, health care and emergency workers and people between 25 and 64 years old with medical complications.

"I am healthy," said a Canadian who went to get his vaccination at the armory.

"Are you healthy?" Weinsier asked a Canadian woman going in for her vaccination.

"Yes," she said.

"No diabetes, nothing?" Weinsier said.

"No," she said.

"Are you high risk?" Weinsier asked.

"No, no, no. I'm in top shape," she said.

"There is enough vaccine for everyone who wants to get vaccinated," Simms said.

But U.S. citizen and Miami resident Colleen Geer said her primary physician did not have the shot to give her on Tuesday.

"Before they get it, we should get it first or they should have to pay for it," Geer said.

Dr. Paula Thaqi, director of the Broward County Health Department, sent a statement to Local 10 on Wednesday, noting that the department already has vaccinated 81,468 schoolchildren and provided 152,615 doses of the vaccine to hospitals, doctors serving the priority groups, health care professionals and first responders.

"The Broward County Health Department is doing everything possible to target the H1N1 Vaccination Campaign toward the priority groups," Thaqi said. "We continue to strongly encourage people in the priority groups to visit the High Risk Vaccination Clinic at the Fort Lauderdale National Guard Armory, and we are partnering with Children Services Council to vaccinate pregnant women and young children next week."

Starting Monday, Broward County plans to open its first H1N1 vaccination clinic for members of the general public. For more information, visit the Broward Health Department Web site.