Not too late for H1N1 shot: N.B. health officials
Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 1:06 PM AT
CBC News
Dr. Eilish Cleary, the chief medical officer of health in New Brunswick, says even if the swine flu peters out, people should get the vaccine because the virus could come back. (CBC)Although swine flu activity continues to increase in New Brunswick, with several thousand estimated cases, it's not too late to get the vaccine, according to health officials.
The low supply of vaccine has delayed some clinics for weeks, which has left some New Brunswickers wondering if the outbreak will run its course before they can get vaccinated.
Health officials are still learning about the virus, but they believe the current outbreak may end in late November to early December, said Dr. Scott Giffin, the medical officer of health for the Saint John area.
'It comes in waves...So we need to make sure people are vaccinated to make sure people don't get sick when it comes back.'—Dr. Eilish Cleary, chief medical officer of health
"Most times, flu outbreaks akin to this one would last six to eight weeks," he said.
But even if the virus peters out in the next few weeks, people should still get the shot, said Dr. Eilish Cleary, the province's chief medical officer of health.
"It comes in waves. It affects a certain percentage of the population and then it goes away again. And then it will come back and affect the rest," she said.
"So we need to make sure people are vaccinated to make sure people don't get sick when it comes back."
The swine flu is virtually the only strain of flu in the province right now, Cleary said.
About 100 cases have been confirmed and 23 people, most of them young, have had to be hospitalized.
Swine flu vaccination clinics are currently scheduled as late as Nov. 24, but that could get pushed back, depending on the supply of the vaccine.
New Brunswick received 11,000 doses this week, as well as 4,500 specifically for pregnant women.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said an additional 1.6 million doses will be shipped to the provinces next week.
