The reduction in the amount of H1N1 flu vaccine for B.C. is not expected to change Interior Health’s plan to offer it to members of the general public not deemed high priority cases, as of Nov. 9.

IH spokeswoman Kathy Renkas said Friday, the plan is still to offer the vaccine to high priority recipients—pregnant women, people under 65 with underlying medical conditions, young children and people in remote communities including First Nations people—at five clinics this coming week in Kelowna and West Kelowna.

In Kelowna, there will be three clinics at the Mission Creek Alliance Church on Springfield Road, Nov. 2 and two more at Rutland’s Willow Park Church, Nov. 5 and 6.

The Nov. 2 clinic will run from 9 a.m, to 5 p.m., the Nov. 5 clinic will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the Nov. 6 clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There will also be two clinics this week in West Kelowna, one at the Sensisyusten School on Quail Lane on Nov. 3 and one in the West Kelowna’s Emmanuel Church on Hebert Road on Nov. 4.

Both will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional clinics were added to the list for this week after heavy turnouts at clinics elsewhere in the province late last week.

Renkas said the public should regularly check the Interior Health website (interiorhealth.ca) as clinic information will be updated every Wednesday because that is when IH officials learn how much vaccine is coming to the region the following week.

In addition to posting the information on the website, IH will also distribute the information to the public through the media, she said.

Local health officials are continuing to assure the public there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants it.

As such, it is asking everyone not deemed high priority to hold off getting vaccinated for another week.

Also, at the H1N1 flu vaccine clinics anyone eligible for a seasonal flu shot can also get one.