H1N1 clinics closed in Winnipeg, Brandon
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 12:36 PM CT
CBC News
Swine flu vaccination clinics are closed in Winnipeg and Brandon and health officials are taking a day-to-day approach to determine when they might reopen.
The supply of vaccine ran drastically short just a week after the Manitoba clinics opened on Oct. 26 because of the public demand for the shot.
More than 120,000 people across the province and 74,973 in Winnipeg have been vaccinated .
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is expecting a shipment of vaccine this week as well as a shipment of the non-adjuvanted vaccine recommended for pregnant women, spokeswoman Heidi Graham stated in a news release.
"As well, public health officials are currently in the process of determining how much remaining vaccine the region now has in stock," she stated.
'Public health officials are currently in the process of determining how much remaining vaccine the region now has in stock.'—Heidi Graham, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
A larger proportion than initially expected has been returned from occupational clinics, and less vaccine than initially anticipated was used Monday.
The WRHA closely screened people on Monday to make sure they fell into one of four priority categories, turning away those who did not. As well, a large number of children were immunized on Monday, and they only require a half-dose, Graham stated.
"A further update will be sent out [Tuesday] once the region knows when the next shipments arrive and decisions are finalized made about how and when they will be administered," she wrote in the release.
Tremendous demand for vaccine
There was such a tremendous demand for the vaccine from the public that lineups at 12 WRHA clinics in Winnipeg were 90 minutes to more than three hours long at times throughout last week and the start of this week.
On Friday, the provincial government announced the clinics, which were originally scheduled to continue this week and run until Dec. 4, would be scaled back due to a shortage of the vaccine.
Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald told CBC News on Friday the province was supposed to receive 72,000 doses this week but that had been reduced to 15,500.
On Monday, the supplies in Winnipeg and Brandon were exhausted.
'They are only expecting another 500 doses to come in for all of next week.'— Kevin McKnight, CEO of the Parkland Regional Health Authority
Carmel Olson, CEO of the Brandon Regional Health Authority, said clinics in the city might resume next week when another 500 doses are expected to arrive. A special clinic for pregnant women may also be held next week, she said.
In the north part of the province as well as the southwestern corner, some clinics are still going strong for now.
Kevin McKnight, CEO of the Parkland Regional Health Authority in the southwest, said nearly 2,500 people have been vaccinated since last week and there are still 1,500 doses available for 12 clinics this week.
"We have committed to those locations. We may just have to reduce the supply somewhat within each of those locations," he said.
Next week is a different story, McKnight said.
"They are only expecting another 500 doses to come in for all of next week so that's really going to restrict [what] we can and can't do next week," he said. "But that is something we are working on this week and we will get out that information as soon as possible."
Clinics still operating in First Nations communities
The vaccination program is also still on track in First Nations communities in Norway House and Nelson House. In communities such as Red Sucker Lake and St. Theresa Point, clinics were successful last week with about 75 to 90 per cent of residents vaccinated.
The rest are expected to get the shots this week.
At Opaskwayak Cree Nation, about 50 per cent of residents were vaccinated last week and the clinics are trying to get to the rest this week. At Garden Hill First Nation, there are about 200 more people who need to get their shots.
The province is still expecting to receive batches of the vaccine throughout the next few weeks but the amount it will get has yet to be determined.
Even so, health officials are still promising that everyone who wants the vaccine will eventually be able to get it.
