The second round of H1N1 inoculations will roll out on Friday — but there will be none held next week due to a nationwide shortage of the vaccination.

Like the first, the clinic for high-risk groups only is being held Friday at the Kamloops Alliance Church, 233 Fortune Dr., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

But, starting next week, there will only be H1N1 clinics in Lillooet, Nakusp, Sparwood and Princeton within the Interior Health Authority.

All planned seasonal flu clinics are also cancelled.

IHA spokeswoman Darshan Lindsay said officials had "way too many queries" and could not be reached for comment.

A Wednesday press release stated the decision was made based on the distance of those communities from other large city centres and because they have not had a clinic in their area.

People in the highest-risk category in communities where there are no mass clinics are being urged to check with their family physicians or walk-in clinics to determine if there are any remaining vaccines.

People at risk are those under 65 with chronic health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, women in the second half of their pregnancy, people who live in rural or isolated communities, including First Nations residents, children six months to five years of age, household contacts and care providers of infants under six months of age and household contacts and care providers of persons who are immunocompromised.

So far, B.C. has received nearly a half-million doses of the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine and is expecting an additional 350,000 doses next week.

Also, the province is expecting 25,000 of non-adjuvanted vaccine specifically for pregnant women from Canada’s pandemic H1N1 some time late next week.

All pregnant women are being urged to contact their health-care provider for the vaccine as it will not be given at public clinics.

According to the release, the IHA expects that, once the supply increases, it will reinstate the mass inoculation clinics across the region.

Additionally, the health authority did not provide answers for when the general population would get access to the vaccine and whether it would be too late to protect themselves from the virus.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq has asked for the public's patience and expects the general public to have access to the vaccination by late November or early December.

Although the U.S. has five suppliers, Canada only has a contract with manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline for the H1N1 vaccine.

Earlier this week, Canada's chief public-health officer, David Butler-Jones, announced excess antigen — the main component of the vaccine — is being exported to other countries because the company can produce more antigen than can be bottled.

Since the first clinic in Kamloops on Tuesday was extremely busy — with more than 600 people waiting outside in lines as long as five hours — the IHA said it will continue to explore all options in planning for future clinics.

"The reality, however, is our choices are limited and when we consider what would be appropriate, all venues have their own limitations," said Anne Clarotto, IHA's director for prevention services, public health, via e-mail earlier this week.

"Not all locations have ample parking — or free parking, for that matter — or are wheelchair accessible, or have the indoor space to hold a mass clinic. 

"These are not easy decisions, which are also compounded by the fact we are only able to plan a few weeks at a time and on a tentative basis as clinics are subject to vaccine availability."

For Kamloops, she said, the deciding factor for the venue was because the IHA pre-booked and paid for seven seasonal flu clinics and in order to roll-out the H1N1 vaccination as quickly as possible.

In the first round, which was extended an extra three hours, about 3,000 doses of vaccine (both H1N1 and seasonal flu) were given.

"It was a long day for everyone," Clarotto said.

"In spite of being a bit tired from the wait, the public was very understanding and supportive and appreciative of being able to get their shot."

For updates and times of the scheduled clinics, go online to interiorhealth.ca.