H1N1 now available for everyone
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Updated: November 25, 2009 10:36 AM
Everybody in British Columbia can now get a free H1N1 flu shot.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall says becoming complacent would be a mistake and, unless more people are immunized, there is still the potential for B.C. to see as many hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks as we have seen to date.
He says there isn’t enough vaccine for everyone in the province yet, but the clinics last week were running at less than half capacity.
This may mean some clinics will run out of vaccine, he adds, but it’s preferable to have vaccine in people’s arms rather than sitting in fridges.
Dr. Kendall says he hopes many more people will get the vaccine to help increase population immunity and help prevent a possible third wave of the pandemic.
Clinics scheduled so far in this area are in 100 Mile House on Wednesday and Thursday, (Nov. 25-26), from noon to 6 p.m. at the 100 Mile House Community Hall, 240 Third St.
Clinics also offer free seasonal flu
shots to those who qualify: anyone over 65 and their caregivers or household contacts; children and adults with chronic health conditions and their household contacts; healthy children between six and 23 months and household contacts and caregivers of infants up to 23 months; pregnant women in their third trimester during flu season; residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities; health-care workers and other care providers in facilities and community settings capable of transmitting flu to those at high risk of complications; and people who work with live poultry or volunteers for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games.
For further information or an update on local clinics, contact the South Cariboo Health Centre at 250-395-7676 or the Interior Health website www.interiorhealth.ca/2009FluClinics.aspx.
