The Canadian shortage of H1N1 vaccine will result in a drastic reduction in the number of public health mass clinics that will be held for next week to administer the H1N1 flu vaccine.

According to Interior Health officials, the H1N1 vaccine shipment expected for next week will be significantly smaller than what has been received in the past two weeks.

Given the reduced vaccine availability, Interior Health will only offer combination H1N1 and seasonal immunization clinics in four communities—Lillooet, Nakusp, Sparwood, and Princeton next week.

This week there were three clinics scheduled for Kelowna - on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and two n West Kelowna, on Tuesday and Wednesday. While there were long lines in Kelowna on Monday, the lines were much shorter in West Kelowna Tuesday and Wednesday.

The decision to offer clinics in the four communities next week was based on available vaccine supply, their proximity to larger clinics in their geographic area, and because they have not had a flu clinic in their community yet.

The clinics will be for high-risk individuals only that meet the eligibility criteria for H1N1 vaccine and seasonal vaccine (if required).

The details on dates, times and locations for the clinics are still being worked out, and, when available, will be posted on the IH website at www.interiorhealth.ca. All previous planned seasonal clinics for this week have been canceled.

For the week of Nov. 9 to 14, people in the highest risk category, living in communities where there will not be a mass clinic, are advised to check with their family doctor or local walk-in clinic to see if they have any remaining available vaccine.

If significant vaccine re-supply does recommence by mid-November, then they would once again re-establish public health mass immunization clinics across IH. 

If vaccine supply is adequate and if indicated by B.C.’s provincial health officer, these clinics will be available for all the general public, not simply high-risk individuals.

For pregnant women, a limited supply of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine is expected to begin arriving in Interior Health the week of Nov 9. Pregnant women are encouraged to contact  their health care provider to discuss and/or receive the vaccine, as this vaccine stock is being routed to physicians providing prenatal and obstetrical care.

The unadjuvanted vaccine will not be provided through public clinics at this time.

For more information check the IH website at interiorhealth.ca.