Public health officials have been struggling with lineups at H1N1 vaccination clinics, but this weekend’s Oceanside clinics should go ahead as planned according to officials.

This week the vaccine priority is expanding to include children, pregnant women and health care workers who are in close contact with chronically ill people.

When the local clinics started last weekend at Wembley Mall in Parksville, they where flooded with people eager to get the shot. The first, highest risk group, which were supposed to be the only ones getting shots last week were those under 65 with chronic health conditions, pregnant women and people who live in isolated, rural areas.

Despite delays in the manufacture and distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, health officials still say there will eventually be enough for anyone who wants the free shot.

Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall said Monday the province has 350,000 doses of the regular vaccine still on hand, and he expects all of those to be administered by Friday.

“If we can do that, then by the end of this week we will have vaccinated 800,000 people, or about 20 per cent of the population, including the most high-risk British Columbians and many health care providers,” Kendall said.

He advised people at high risk for H1N1 to talk to their doctor about getting a prescription for the treatment drug Tamiflu, whether they are immunized or not, so they can get it filled quickly if they start to show the respiratory and other symptoms of influenza.

Healthy people should be able to get the shot by early December. Until then people are urged to take precautions, including washing hands, coughing or sneezing into their sleeve and getting sufficient rest and nutrition to keep their immune systems strong.

All vaccine clinics are administering both H1N1 and seasonal flu shots to those who qualify. Currently the only people who qualify for the seasonal vaccine are those over 65 and/or those who reside in long-term care facilities.

The vaccination clinics run every weekend for at least five more weeks from 12:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information on H1N1 and clinic locations check online at www.viha.ca/h1n1 or call HealthLink BC at 811.

— with files from Tom Fletcher/Black Press