Health district preparing for start of HINI clinics on Friday

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

A spokesperson for South West Health admits there is no way of knowing ahead of time how many people will turn out for the first of 21 free H1N1 vaccination clinics when it opens in Yarmouth on Friday.

But Fraser Mooney says with the number of people that will be on hand to administer the shots, the district feels it will be prepared to handle the crowd.

The clinics that will be held in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties over the next five weeks will be staffed by public health nurses, along with some retired nurses who have agreed to help out the health district during the H1N1 immunization campaign. “On Friday, we’re going to have around 18 people who are available to give out the flu shot,” Mooney said in an interview on Wednesday afternoon.

The first clinics in the health district are the ones happening at the Lions Club in Yarmouth. In the upcoming days there will be a clinic on Friday, Oct. 30 from 12-7 p.m. and another on Monday, Nov. 2 from 12-7 p.m. (See a complete list of the scheduled clinics at the end of this story).

Earlier this week clinics opened in other parts of the province, like Elmsdale and Truro, where nearly 1,000 people showed up on the first day to get an H1N1 shot.

While earlier in the month, and even as recent as a week ago, many in the public were skeptical of the vaccine, the tide seems to be turning as health officials have been urging people to get a shot for their protection. The death of an otherwise healthy 13-year-old hockey player in Toronto on Oct. 26 seems to have swayed people in the direction of the vaccine. “If you would have asked me how many people to expect (at the clinics) a few weeks ago, I would have thought there was some reluctance to get the H1N1 vaccine, but certainly within the last week the interest has grown, which is a good thing,” said Mooney. “The department of health promotion and protection, and indeed our own public health services, are promoting the H1N1 vaccine as the number one way to prevent the spread of this virus. “And given what we’ve seen up in Elmsdale and up in Truro, we anticipate there is going to be a pretty good turnout for our clinics.”

Still, Mooney said the health district does want people to keep in mind the fact that 21 clinics are scheduled for 13 locations over the next month or so. “We have enough vaccine for everyone who wants it, so we’re encouraging people to not necessarily feel like they have to get it on the first day. We’re going to have enough clinics and if you do have a family doctor, you might want to check with them first if they’re giving the shot,” he said.

Still, even Mooney understands that some people are reluctant to wait for their shot, given that health officials are also saying that the second wave of H1N1 swine flu has struck the province, and indeed the country. He said anyone who falls in the H1N1 high risk categories, like pregnant women for one, should get their H1N1 shot as soon as they can.

As for the public in general, “Keep in mind that there is going to be a clinic coming to a community near you,” said Mooney.

The health district does not receive all of its vaccine in one delivery. It is arriving in weekly doses.

Meanwhile, aside from the health district clinics announced last week, Dr. Roland Muise of Harbour South Medical Clinic will also be offering walk-in clinics at the Main Street clinic from 1-5 p.m. on both Tuesday, Nov. 3 and Thursday, Nov. 5.

Speaking about the upcoming clinics in the health district, Mooney said people must bring their health cards with them. While waiting in line people will be screened for influenza type illness. If someone is found to have the flu, they’ll be asked to come back another day. “We don’t necessarily want someone with the flu in the area with all these other people,” explained Mooney. “And the recommendation is so far that if you have the flu to stay home and wait until you’re symptom free.”

Following the screening process, there will be a registration form to fill out. And while people are waiting for their shots a video will be played providing an explanation about the vaccine.

After people receive their H1N1 shot, they will be observed for 15 minutes to make sure they don’t have a reaction to the shot.

Along with the H1N1 shot, people who are in a high-risk category for the seasonal flu can also get that flu shot at the clinics.

Asked if people will be turned away if they’re still waiting in line when the clinics are slated to close at the end of the day, Mooney said Wednesday that’s something they’ll have to look at when the time comes. “Certainly if it comes to clinic closing time and there is still 100 people outside, we’re going to have to make a reasonable assessment and say we’re not going to be able to get to all of these people,” he said. “But I think with the number of people we have available to give the shots…we anticipate that we are pretty well prepared to handle whatever crowds we might get.”

The following is a list of the free H1N1 vaccine clinics announced by South West Health: •Yarmouth Lion’s Club Hall:

Friday, Oct. 30 from 12-7 p.m.;

Monday, Nov. 2 from 12-7 p.m.;

Monday, Nov. 16 from 12-7 p.m.;

Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 12-7p.m.; •Port Maitland Fire Hall:

Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 1-7p.m.; •Carleton Legion:

Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 1-7p.m.; •Wedgeport Legion:

Mon. Nov. 30 from 1-7p.m.; •Pubnico Legion:

Thursday, Nov. 26 from 12-7 p.m.; •Tusket - Ecole Par-en-Bas:

Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 4-7:30 p.m.;

Thursday, Dec. 3 from 4-7:30 p.m.; •Shelburne Fire Hall:

Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 12-7 p.m.;

Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 12-7 p.m.; •Lockeport Fire Hall:

Thursday, Nov. 12 from 1-7 p.m.; •Islands & Barrington Fire Hall:

Mon. Dec. 7 from 12-7 p.m.;

Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 12-7 p.m.; •Digby Curling Centre:

Mon. Nov. 9 from 12-7 p.m.;

Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 12-7 p.m.; •Saulnierville Legion:

Thursday, Nov. 5 from 12-7 p.m.;

Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 12-7 p.m.;

Weymouth Legion:

Monday, Nov. 23 from 12-7 p.m.;

Freeport Legion:

Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 2-6 p.m.;