Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
<CITE>By CBC News, cbc.ca, </CITE>Updated: November 6, 2009 3:02 PM
2 more swine flu deaths in Alberta
Two more people in Alberta have died from complications of swine flu, bringing the total deaths in the province to 20 since the outbreak began in April.
The announcement Friday comes as Alberta expands its H1N1 vaccination program to include pregnant women, who are being offered a form of the vaccine without an adjuvant, or booster.
Children more than six months old but under five years old are also eligible for the vaccine, which is being offered at special clinics across the province. Locations and times are available on Alberta Health Service's website.
At Calgary's six vaccination clinics, lines were mostly moving quickly on Friday.
"I've been here maybe 45 minutes," said Pat Clendon, who was at the
Brentwood Village Mall. "They gave me two wristbands and an informed consent form to read, and it sounds like there will be minimum paperwork upstairs and we can get right to business."
Vaccination of pregnant women and young children will continue through the weekend. Those groups will not be turned away when more vaccine becomes available and other high-risk groups are added to the eligibility list, say health officials.
Besides the two deaths, Alberta is reporting that another 41 people have been hospitalized due to the flu, bringing the total so far this year to 480.
The median age of hospitalized cases is 31. Most of the people who are in hospital, or have died from H1N1, had underlying health conditions.
On Thursday, health officials said about 25 per cent of the people in the province's intensive care units are either confirmed to have or suspected of having the virus.
Last week, the vaccine was offered to any Albertan over six months and people waited in massive lines to get the shot. Alberta Health Services abruptly closed all of Alberta's clinics on the weekend, blaming a shortage of vaccine and overwhelmed staff.
http://news.ca.msn.com/local/edmonton/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22530018
2 more swine flu deaths in Alberta
Two more people in Alberta have died from complications of swine flu, bringing the total deaths in the province to 20 since the outbreak began in April.
The announcement Friday comes as Alberta expands its H1N1 vaccination program to include pregnant women, who are being offered a form of the vaccine without an adjuvant, or booster.
Children more than six months old but under five years old are also eligible for the vaccine, which is being offered at special clinics across the province. Locations and times are available on Alberta Health Service's website.
At Calgary's six vaccination clinics, lines were mostly moving quickly on Friday.
"I've been here maybe 45 minutes," said Pat Clendon, who was at the
Brentwood Village Mall. "They gave me two wristbands and an informed consent form to read, and it sounds like there will be minimum paperwork upstairs and we can get right to business."
Vaccination of pregnant women and young children will continue through the weekend. Those groups will not be turned away when more vaccine becomes available and other high-risk groups are added to the eligibility list, say health officials.
Besides the two deaths, Alberta is reporting that another 41 people have been hospitalized due to the flu, bringing the total so far this year to 480.
The median age of hospitalized cases is 31. Most of the people who are in hospital, or have died from H1N1, had underlying health conditions.
On Thursday, health officials said about 25 per cent of the people in the province's intensive care units are either confirmed to have or suspected of having the virus.
Last week, the vaccine was offered to any Albertan over six months and people waited in massive lines to get the shot. Alberta Health Services abruptly closed all of Alberta's clinics on the weekend, blaming a shortage of vaccine and overwhelmed staff.
http://news.ca.msn.com/local/edmonton/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22530018