All B.C. residents now eligible for H1N1 vaccine
Interior Health running H1N1/Seasonl flu immunization clinics throughout the region
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Updated: November 25, 2009 8:20 AM
All British Columbians who need and want to be immunized against the H1N1 flu virus will now be eligible to receive the vaccine.
“I want to encourage every British Columbian who has not yet been vaccinated to now go out and get their shot as soon as possible,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall. “Becoming complacent would be a mistake and, unless we get more people immunized, there is still potential for B.C. to see as many hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks as we have seen to date.”
Cranbrook's first H1N1/seasonal flu vaccine clinics open to the general public will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, November 23 and 24.
B.C. expects to receive an additional 258,000 doses of vaccine today and anticipates receiving approximately 640,000 doses late next week. In total, 1.16 million doses of the vaccine have already been delivered to British Columbia.
“When eligibility was expanded last week, we anticipated line-ups all through this week as demand would once again increase among these new groups, but this has not occurred,” said Kendall. “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 now do so. “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.”
Building on distribution plans already in place, regional health authorities will receive shipments of additional doses on a weekly basis. The vaccine will continue to be made available through public flu shot clinics, physicians’ offices and, in some regions of the province, through a number of pharmacists who have been trained and licensed to administer the vaccine.
“To date, we estimate almost one million British Columbians have been immunized, including a large percentage of health care workers and many people who are considered to be at the highest risk,” said Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Ida Chong. “I hope that many more British Columbians will consider getting the vaccine to help increase population immunity and help prevent a possible third wave of the pandemic.”
Combined H1N1 and seasonal flu clinics will be held at the following East Kootenay locations for the week of Nov. 23. The clinics are available to anyone, with the exception of infants less than six months, who wants or needs the H1N1 vaccination:
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• Cranbrook, Tue., Nov. 24, Baker Street Mall, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Cranbrook, Wed., Nov. 25, Baker Street Mall, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Creston, Fri., Nov. 27, Holy Cross Catholic Hall, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Elkford, Mon., Nov. 23, Union Hall, 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Golden, Thu., Nov. 26., Mount 7 Rec Plex, 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Invermere, Sat., Nov. 28, Community Hall, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jaffray, Thu., Nov. 26, Senior's Hall, 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Kimberley, Sat., Nov. 28, Centennial Centre, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For the week of Nov. 23, people living in communities where there will not be a mass clinic nearby, are directed to attend the nearest clinic to them or check with their family physician or walk-in clinic to see if they have vaccine available.
On Nov. 13, the Public Health Agency of Canada updated its recommendations on H1N1 flu vaccine dosing for children between 3 and 9 years of age. The updated recommendations suggest that a single half-dose of adjuvanted H1N1 flu vaccine for health children may provide an acceptable level of protection from infection from the H1N1 flu virus.
For updated information please visit www.interiorhealth.ca or www.immunizebc.ca. Or call HealthLink B.C. at 8-1-1.
