Plenty turn out at Coquitlam Centre for H1N1 shots
Linda Marzec holds her daughter Sarah as twin brother Andrew watches Vlada Yakubovich administer the H1N1 vaccine Monday at Coquitlam Centre. The Marzecs waited for over two hours for the vaccine before being told that they did not qualify. After some clarification, the decision was reversed and they received their shots.
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Updated: November 09, 2009 6:42 AM
Turnout at community clinics this week has been strong, with very few reports of people jumping the queue for their H1N1 vaccine, according to the Fraser Health Authority.
"There's been a great response to them and it's going quite smoothly," said FHA spokesperson Joan Marshall.
About 600 doses of the H1N1 vaccine were administered at community clinics at Coquitlam Centre mall and in White Rock on Monday. The clinics — for high-risk individuals only — are continuing this week, with a second one in Coquitlam on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Poirier community centre (630 Poirier St.).
A second round of community clinics is being arranged for next week, with details to be posted on Fraser Health's website (www.fraserhealth.ca).
People who were at Coquitlam Centre Monday for the vaccine reported line-ups of anywhere from one to three hours.
"People are arriving very early for them," Marshall said. "It's good to see such a positive response to the vaccine that people are wanting to get out there but it has created some long line-ups and waits."
She said that in general, people are adhering to the roll-out schedule and not trying to jump ahead to get the vaccine early.
The priority for now is to vaccinate people most likely to suffer complications from H1N1 — people under 65 with chronic health conditions, pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy, children six months to under five years, families and caregivers of infants under six months and those with weakened immune systems.
The general public can get vaccines likely starting at the end of November and Marshall said there is no reason for people to panic, noting, "It's a priority system, and eventually everyone will have access to the vaccine."
• Visit http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/flu/ to locate a flu clinic or www.fraserhealth.ca for additional H1N1 information.
spayne@tricitynews.com
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