Waits of more than three hours were reported with some queuing up outside, ahead of store hours, to wait for the Parksville clinic’s 11 a.m. opening.

“I was here at 8 a.m. and was about the 15th person in line,” said Joe Beaudoin as he received his shot at around 11:15 a.m. “Mine was suggested to me by my doctor. I have asthma.”

The province began the largest immunization campaign in history earlier in the week as the vaccine became available to first priority, high-risk residents — people under 65 with chronic health conditions, pregnant women and individuals, including First Nations living on reserves, who reside in remote or isolated areas.

Public health nurse Deb Baumann walked the sides of the line.

The line itself snaked nearly the entire course of the mall, providing people with basic information and reminding them they wouldn’t be getting a shot if they didn’t fall under the established criteria for first receivers of the vaccine.

“If you haven’t got a ticket the only thing available today is a seasonal flu shot,” she said.

“Better safe than sorry,” said Karen Domhoff from her place, about halfway up the queue, holding a ticket received because of her asthma. “I’ve been here since about a quarter to ten.”

A intake worker near the entrance to the clinic, held in the open area outside Oceanside Place, said 1,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine would be administered Saturday.

“People have been quite co-operative. It’ll be late afternoon that there might be a concern,” she said.

Members of the general population who don’t fall into high risk categories will be able to receive the H1N1 vaccine as soon as supply is sufficient but not at this time,” said the medical director of immunization programs at the B.C. Centre for disease Control, Dr. Monika Naus, in a joint press release with the Island’s health authority. “We ask that healthy individuals allow those who need the vaccine most at this time to get it first.”

The province has received nearly half a million doses of the vaccine with another shipment of 350,000 expected this week. Each health authority has implemented a vaccination plan which best suits its geographical area and population densities. In coming days it’s expected health care workers will be prioritized for vaccination as the program rolls into phased distribution.

Another H1N1 immunizations clinic was scheduled at Webmley Mall Sunday, Nov. 1 but media reports at press time talked of weekend clinic cancellations across the province. In Parksville clinics are set for Nov. 6 from 12:30 to 7 p.m. and Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m at Wembley Mall.

Visit www.viha.ca/h1n1 for clinic criteria, times and locations.

Vaccination seekers lined nearly the entire course of Wembley Mall. Authorities are unsure when the general population will receive a green light for immunization against H1N1.