A shortage of swine flu vaccine prompted health officials to shut down three clinics early on Thursday and health officials are warning the stockpile of vaccine on the Island is running dangerously low.
This comes as the swine flu or H1N1 continues to spread across Prince Edward Island.
Dozens of people swamped a flu assessment centre in Charlottetown on Thursday. Health officials will open three additional clinics across the province today in O'Leary, Summerside and Souris.
Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says the province is receiving troubling information that the amount of vaccine destined for P.E.I. next week may be less than first anticipated.
That, she added, may cause further delays in getting Islanders vaccinated.
Morrison said there will be enough vaccine for all Islanders, but how much the province receives every week is determined by the Public Health Agency in Ottawa.
"We can only give out the amount of vaccine that we have," Morrison said during a briefing on Thursday.
"Although we have a plan in place of what we want to do for the vaccine rollout, if we do not get the vaccine that we would like we will have to adjust our clinic schedules."
Vaccination clinics in Bloomfield, Summerside and Souris were forced to close early on Thursday because they ran out of vaccine.
Those clinics will not reopen until next week.
But the vaccine shortage will not affect swine flu vaccination programs for pregnant women, which get underway today at the Polyclinic in Charlottetown and the Summerside Medical Centre in Summerside.
The province received 18,000 doses of the vaccine this week.
By midday on Thursday, more than 15,000 doses had been administered. The province continues to focus on those at most risk of complications, including children.
Kelly Dawn Perry of Middleton is fearful for her children's health. She's tried to get her children, aged five, four and three, vaccinated at three separate vaccination clinics but wasn't able to get the shots.
Perry went to Summerside on Wednesday but was told they were not taking any more patients.
She went to Lennox Island on Thursday but was told that clinic was for aboriginals only so she tried Bloomfield only to be told there were 500 people in line in front of her.
"I'm really mad," she said. "I have a relative who has the swine flu. If we don't get this needle our whole family is going to get this."
The P.E.I. government is expanding the number of flu assessment clinics across the Island, which is where Islanders go if they have flu-like symptoms.
Those with serious flu-like symptoms should call 911 or go to their local hospital emergency room.
The first flu clinic opened at the Four Neighbourhoods Family Health Centre in Charlottetown.
Today, clinics also open at the Urgent Care Centre at Community Hospital in O'Leary, at the Harbourside Family Health Centre in Summerside as well as at the outpatients department at Souris Hospital.
Clinics will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. seven days per week.
Patients who need to access health services for non-flu-related health problems in O'Leary and at Harbourside clinic in Summerside will have to go elsewhere until the swine flu subsides, added Dr. Richard Wedge, the director of medical programs for the province.
The province is no longer testing for swine flu unless patients are admitted to hospital.
Morrison said the province now knows that the second wave of the swine flu is here.
"If you have influenza-like illness, it is assumed you will have H1N1," said the doctor.
Vaccine shortage prompts officials to close clinics
Vaccine shortage prompts officials to close clinics
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Comments
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- Hee
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:17
I expect the hundreds of people waiting to get the shot have already gotten the flu so why bother? You can't get vaccinated if you have a fever.
People, go home, stay home and get well! -
- Concerned
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:35:11
With so many Islanders trying and successfully jumping the Que, it's obvious that we need more than just the Medical Society administering a future crisis. I really feel bad for the people who should be getting the shot and can't. Shame on the people in the line who shouldn't be there. A sore toe or a touch of arthritis is not a chronic disease. Hopefully we will learn from this and will better manage who gets priority next time.
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- The Observer
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:22:54
The irony in this is that the reason for this shortage is that resources have been diverted to produce a special vaccine for pregnant women which according to WHO this morning was not really necessary. WHO also says there is no relationship between the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot (and we all remember the kerfuffle over that unpublished study a few weeks ago don't we?).
Don't know whether to laugh or cry but one thing is for certain. The public will be less likely in the future to listen to the experts . It's like crying wolf one time too many. -
- what?
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:48:10
Sarah Fraser used the term swine flu on Compass too.
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- This is for Wayne
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:19
Wayne Thibodeau, listen up! WHEN are you going to stop calling this the swine flu????? The public has been using H1N1 for ages now, why can't the media do the same? Pork farmers have it bad enough without reading swine flu this and swine flu that in the paper every single day in every single article! H1N1 sounds much more professional so obviously you can't be much of a professional with your swine flu reference!
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- Here we
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:56
Kelly Dawn Perry said.....
Im really mad, she said. I have a relative who has the swine flu. If we dont get this needle our whole family is going to get this.
Yet she's travelled how far around the province and possiably passed this on to how many more people IF she is infact a carrier?? And did we go to any stores on those trips? Or resturants? Bathrooms??
Just a thought. -
- Sue
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:24
If you already had the flu(confirmed and not just supected) why get the vaccine,you should now have an immunity and don't need the vaccine at all
