Time for everyone to get H1N1 shot
Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall
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Updated: November 19, 2009 2:25 PM
VICTORIA – All B.C. residents are now eligible for the H1N1 influenza vaccine, and the provincial health officer is hoping that available supplies available around the province are used up as soon as possible.
Dr. Perry Kendall said Thursday the demand for the vaccine was not as high as he expected this week after designated priority groups were expanded, so rolling the immunization program out to the general public has taken place ahead of schedule.
"While we do not yet have enough vaccine to administer to everyone who is now eligible, given that our clinics are operating at less than full capacity, it is only fair to open it up to the rest of the population so that any and all British Columbians who want to be vaccinated can do so now," Kendall said.
"This may mean clinics run out of vaccine and are forced to close until additional supplies are obtained, but it is preferable to have vaccine in people's arms rather than sitting in fridges."
The vaccine is available at local public health clinics, doctors' offices, and from specially trained pharmacists in regions where clinics are not available. To find out the location of the nearest clinic or office, contact your local public health unit, doctor's office or call HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1.
A list of locations for influenza shots is also available on the web at www.ImmunizeBC.ca.
Kendall said about one million B.C. residents have now been vaccinated. Another 258,000 doses arrived in B.C. Thursday and another 640,000 doses are expected to arrive late next week. That will bring the total for B.C. to about two million, or half the population.
If next week's batch arrives on time, that will indicate that production problems at the manufacturing stage have been solved, he said.
