H1N1 vaccinations will soon grind to a halt.

The Interior Health Authority will only hold four immunization clinics across its vast region next week because not enough vaccine is available.

“If we were receiving the amounts we anticipated, we would still be holding clinics,” said Lannea Parfitt, with public health communications.

The four communities that will have clinics are Lillooet, Nakusp, Sparwood and Princeton, and it’s not known when they will return to the North Okanagan.

“We’re at the mercy of the manufacturers,” said Parfitt.

“We will assess the situation next week and if there is enough vaccine available, we will open clinics.”

Mass clinics will still occur today at Wesbild Centre from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We’ve tried to extend hours where we can so we can get as many people vaccinated while the clinics are open and we have vaccine this week,” said Parfitt.

While there will be no mass immunization clinics in the North Okanagan next week, individuals who are a high-priority are being directed to their family doctor or walk-in clinics.

“Two-thirds of the vaccine we are receiving is going to physicians. They can identify their high-risk people,” said Parfitt.

“We are partnering with physicians to get the vaccine out to the most people in as quick a time as possible.”

Presently, clinics are for those individuals deemed to be in the following priority groups:

n Pregnant women in the second half of pregnancy

n Persons under age 65 with chronic conditions

n Children six months – 59 months of age (less than five-years-old)

n Household contacts and care providers of infants less than six months of age

n Household contacts and care providers of persons who are immunocompromised

n Persons residing in rural and remote communities, including all Aboriginal populations

n Health care workers involved in responding to pandemic influenza

Details about times, dates and locations of the clinic nearest are posted at www.interiorhealth.ca or www.immunizebc.ca. You can also call HealthLink at 811.