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Long line forms for first flu clinic of season
By Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen
October 10, 2009
OTTAWA?
Ottawa residents 65 and older began lining up for the city?s first seasonal flu vaccine clinic at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, an hour before it was scheduled to open.
Three hours later, one corridor of Holy Trinity High School at 180 Katimavik Rd. in Kanata was packed with dozens of seniors waiting patiently for nurses to give them their flu shots. Most knew they would need a second H1N1 vaccinations later, but did not seem overly concerned about two needles. A few were concerned that they would head south before the second vaccine becomes available, but said they would probably pay for another flu shot in Florida.
By the end of the clinic at 3:30 p.m., 942 people had received a flu vaccine.
The plan in Ontario is to vaccinate over-65s against seasonal flu, then roll out vaccinations against H1N1 swine flu, and then offer seasonal-flu vaccines to younger Ontarians, possibly in November. This approach is meant to deliver the vaccines to the people who need them most when they'll do the most good.
Jack Fawcett, 76, who is leaving Ottawa for a trip south at the end of October, said he will probably get the H1N1 vaccine in Florida. His wife, Deryle Fawcett, said the couple paid $30 each for flu vaccine in Arizona two years ago.
?We wish we could have the other vaccine now but we were told it would be available in about three weeks,? Mrs. Fawcett said. ?I doubt we will be able to get the second vaccine before we leave.?
Walter Hayduk, 78, said it was a nuisance to wait in line twice for 11?2 hours to get two flu shots. ?It is a long process ? I didn?t expect it, I have to say. The wait wasn?t quite as long last year. Maybe next time I will bring a book or a newspaper.?
Dale MacGregor, 68, said he is not sure whether he will need a second vaccination because he thinks people over 65 will have some immunity to the H1N1 virus. He said he was more concerned about being vaccinated against seasonal flu and will ask his doctor whether he needs a second shot.
Rory Hayter, 69, who was in a wheelchair, said he got into the clinic in about 30 minutes because he is disabled. A regular at the Kanata clinic, Hayter said the lineup seemed longer than usual this year.
?I am a little worried about two vaccinations,? Hayter said. ?You hear lots of stories about people being more susceptible to H1N1 if they have had the regular flu shot. ?But it is better to take this flu shot now and come back later for the next one. I will probably come back for the H1N1 vaccine if other people don?t have adverse reactions.?
The federal government has not pinpointed a date to roll out the H1N1 vaccine in October, contrary to what a media report said on Thursday. The report said the government was planning to begin shipping the vaccine to the provinces and territories on Oct. 19 to be ready for distribution on Oct. 26. But a spokesman for Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the government is still aiming to have the vaccine ready in the first week of November.
Canada?s chief public health officer said Wednesday that 35 per cent or more of the country could become sick with H1N1.
? Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Long+line+forms+first+clinic+season/2090801/story.html
By Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen
October 10, 2009
OTTAWA?
Ottawa residents 65 and older began lining up for the city?s first seasonal flu vaccine clinic at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, an hour before it was scheduled to open.
Three hours later, one corridor of Holy Trinity High School at 180 Katimavik Rd. in Kanata was packed with dozens of seniors waiting patiently for nurses to give them their flu shots. Most knew they would need a second H1N1 vaccinations later, but did not seem overly concerned about two needles. A few were concerned that they would head south before the second vaccine becomes available, but said they would probably pay for another flu shot in Florida.
By the end of the clinic at 3:30 p.m., 942 people had received a flu vaccine.
The plan in Ontario is to vaccinate over-65s against seasonal flu, then roll out vaccinations against H1N1 swine flu, and then offer seasonal-flu vaccines to younger Ontarians, possibly in November. This approach is meant to deliver the vaccines to the people who need them most when they'll do the most good.
Jack Fawcett, 76, who is leaving Ottawa for a trip south at the end of October, said he will probably get the H1N1 vaccine in Florida. His wife, Deryle Fawcett, said the couple paid $30 each for flu vaccine in Arizona two years ago.
?We wish we could have the other vaccine now but we were told it would be available in about three weeks,? Mrs. Fawcett said. ?I doubt we will be able to get the second vaccine before we leave.?
Walter Hayduk, 78, said it was a nuisance to wait in line twice for 11?2 hours to get two flu shots. ?It is a long process ? I didn?t expect it, I have to say. The wait wasn?t quite as long last year. Maybe next time I will bring a book or a newspaper.?
Dale MacGregor, 68, said he is not sure whether he will need a second vaccination because he thinks people over 65 will have some immunity to the H1N1 virus. He said he was more concerned about being vaccinated against seasonal flu and will ask his doctor whether he needs a second shot.
Rory Hayter, 69, who was in a wheelchair, said he got into the clinic in about 30 minutes because he is disabled. A regular at the Kanata clinic, Hayter said the lineup seemed longer than usual this year.
?I am a little worried about two vaccinations,? Hayter said. ?You hear lots of stories about people being more susceptible to H1N1 if they have had the regular flu shot. ?But it is better to take this flu shot now and come back later for the next one. I will probably come back for the H1N1 vaccine if other people don?t have adverse reactions.?
The federal government has not pinpointed a date to roll out the H1N1 vaccine in October, contrary to what a media report said on Thursday. The report said the government was planning to begin shipping the vaccine to the provinces and territories on Oct. 19 to be ready for distribution on Oct. 26. But a spokesman for Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the government is still aiming to have the vaccine ready in the first week of November.
Canada?s chief public health officer said Wednesday that 35 per cent or more of the country could become sick with H1N1.
? Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Long+line+forms+first+clinic+season/2090801/story.html