N.S. family doctors lose supply of H1N1 vaccine
Last Updated: Saturday, October 31, 2009 | 8:15 PM AT
CBC News
All public swine flu clinics have been cancelled in Nova Scotia for the weekend due to a vaccine shortage.
And while some family doctors have been inoculating their patients, their supply has also been cut off.
"We booked three weekends — Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday — including Remembrance Day," said Dr. Frank Lo.
"Now we have to call everyone up and say, 'Guess what? There ain't any vaccine, you have to wait.'"
Lo said he and the other family doctors who signed on to administer the vaccine were promised 80 new doses every week.
But Friday evening, chief provincial health officer Dr. Robert Strang faxed him a letter stating no more doses are coming, at least for now.
Lo, who only has about 30 shots left, is disappointed. He contends family doctors have a better grasp of who is in need and can administer the vaccine more efficiently.
But Nova Scotia health officials say there isn't enough vaccine to go around and the focus will remain on priority groups at public clinics for now.
High-risk groups who qualify for the shot are:
- Pregnant women.
- Children six months to less than 5 years.
- First Nations communities.
- Health-care workers.
In Nova Scotia, people under age 65 with chronic health conditions are no longer included on the list of those most at risk.
Officials hope to have more vaccine within seven to 10 days.
Meanwhile, Lo is still encouraging patients to visit their family doctors to get the seasonal flu shot.
"The regular flu shot is still the biggest game in town," he said. "The H1N1 is the emotional target, but the regular flu shot is what everybody should be getting."
Lo has plenty of that vaccine to go around.
