HUNDREDS RUSH FOR FLU SHOTS
VACCINE IN DEMAND AS H1N1 CASES SURGE
Alberta Health Services is considering expanding immunization services as it deals with a sudden surge of H1N1 flu cases.
Hundreds of Calgarians seeking protection from the flu were forced to line up for hours at immunization clinics Thursday.
Of 357 influenza cases reported in Calgary, 345 are the H1N1 strain that often hits people aged 20 to 50 much harder than seniors and children.
The total is up significantly from the 262 reported flu cases tallied only four days ago, 240 of which were confirmed to be H1N1. Of those, 144 are severe cases where patients have been hospitalized.
Healthy teens and adults are able to get free flu shots at most pharmacies, but only two public clinics are still providing immunization for children under the age of nine — Brentwood Village Mall and South Calgary Health Centre.
There were more locations open earlier in the fall, but these shut down as demand started to fade.
“That really makes it difficult for young families,” said Anthony Aleksic, whose wife and two-year-old son abandoned the Brentwood clinic early Thursday after witnessing long lineups winding through the mall well before the 11 a.m. opening.
“We live in a developed world. And for a city the size of Calgary, we should have way more locations right now with more convenient hours.”
“It really is kind of ridiculous,” said Denise McAlpine, as she hunkered down at the back of a long line at the Brentwood clinic with her two sons, aged nine months and five years.
“We had to drive all the way in from Airdrie for this. Who knows how long it will take.”
Dr. Judy MacDonald, medical officer of health, said young families may be frustrated as they try to squeeze in immunization shots before school starts again next Monday.
This is just the tip of the iceberg DR. JUDY MACDONALD
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. We may be getting more people reporting symptoms or more doctors taking swabs because of the heightened awareness.”
MacDonald expected there were many more cases circulating within the community.
“We know that people are concerned, and we are seeing more waves of people coming to our larger clinics right now,” she said.
“We will monitor the demand closely over the next day, and we may adjust our hours or add locations based on that.”
H1N1 was first introduced into the community in 2009, when it was considered a pandemic after more than 1,300 Albertans were hospitalized and close to 75 died, including healthy teens and adults.
MacDonald said all seasonal influenza vaccinations have included protection against H1N1 since 2009, including this year. Those who received shots in 2009, or fell ill from H1N1 that year, are not necessarily still protected now.
“There really are no guarantees so it’s best to just get your flu shot every year.”