(Posted 10 p.m., Oct. 26)
East end residents flock to H1N1 vaccination clinic, hundreds end up getting turned away
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Members of specific priority groups waited for up to three hours to get their H1N1 flu shot on the first day of the city's free immunization program on Monday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

An effective public information campaign combined with the public's growing fear of the H1N1 virus resulted in an overwhelming turnout at swine flu vaccination clinics across the city today, including at the Orléans Client Service Centre where people had to be turned away two and a half hours after the doors had opened.

People started milling around the lobby of the Client Service Centre on Centrum Boulevard at 1:30 p.m. By 2:15 p.m. more than 400 people had already been given numbers and within 45 minutes, the crowd, which mainly consisted of young parents with children under the age of five, had swelled to more than 600.

As more and more people showed up, the estimated wait time exceeded three hours. By 5 p.m. with close to 250 people having already received their flu shots and 700 still to go, public health officials decided to stop given out numbers and started turning people away.

By and large, most of the people who showed up for the clinic were among the targeted groups which have been given priority to receive the H1N1 vaccine such as pregnant women, children under the age of five, health care workers, and anyone under the age of 65 who has an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease.

Despite the general sense of mass confusion, most people seemed willing to wait however long it took to get their flu shot. The large number of preschool children were especially patient given the circumstances.

Probably the one factor that caused the most confusion was the person's current health status. Individuals who are currently battling a cold or other virus are asked to wait until they are healthy before being immunized. That's because their body's are currently producing antibodies to combat whatever illness they currently have.

The H1N1 vaccine is designed to trick the body into thinking that it has the real virus. The body then produces antibodies to combat the fake virus, thus developing and immunity to the real thing.

A number of people waited for to two hours or more only to be sent home and told to come back when they are healthier.

Chain Hull had been waiting for nearly two hours to have her three-year-old son Blake immunized when she found out that he couldn't receive the vaccine because he was already sick.

Since she had to come back again anyway to get her 12-year-old diabetic stepson immunized she didn't mind the inconvenience.

"I'm very anxious about it just from people talking about it and the various stories I've read. I wasn't going to get immunized myself until I talked to my neighbour who's a nurse and she convinced me," said Hull.

Brian Fleck was one of the early arrivals. Despite showing up shortly after
2 p.m. he did not receive his flu shot until shortly after 4 p.m. As a diabetic, Fleck says there was never any question he would among the first people lined up for the voluntary vaccination program.

"They tell me its good for me so I believe them. I've never missed a flu shot since they've been giving them out," says Fleck who works in sales.

Cathy Gadded was also an early arrival. As an asthmatic and a day care worker, she had two very good reasons to get an H1N1 shot.

"Being with young kids and having the extra risk factor, I wanted to get it as soon as I could," said Goddard.

Anyone who was turned away from the clinic on Monday will have two more weeks to get immunized before the general population gets their turn. The clinic will be open during week days from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parents of young children should be aware that the vaccine is administered in two half-doses, three weeks apart. So they will have to visit the clinic twice.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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