400 people identified as high risk immunized at H1N1 clinic in Yarmouth on Monday

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

South West Health says it gave H1N1 shots to approximately 400 people – the majority of whom were children under the age of five – at an immunization clinic in Yarmouth on Monday, Nov. 2.

Due to a national shortage of the H1N1 vaccine, the Yarmouth clinic and three others happening in the health district over the next week are only for people identified as falling within the following high risk groups: children between six months of age and five years old; pregnant women, First Nations people and health-care workers.

On Tuesday, South West Health spokesperson Fraser Mooney said the health district has enough vaccine to cover all of the people in the high-risk priority groups in South West Health. It bases this claim on a knowledge of birth rates in the health district over the past five years, and knowing the number of First Nations people living on reserves, as well as the number of health care workers. Many of the front-line health care workers are being immunized in the hospital setting.

And while pregnant women can go to clinics for the high-risk groups, Mooney said most of the pregnant women in the health district are being immunized at prenatal clinics.

“So we do know we have enough vaccine – we’ve counted the vials – to hit all of the broad members of the priority groups in South West Health,” said Mooney. “So the message there is if you’re a mother with a young child under five, you don’t have to line up at eight in the morning for a clinic that doesn’t open up until noon. We will get to you.”

Aside from the clinic that was held in Yarmouth, others were or are planned for the Shelburne fire hall on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 12-7 p.m.; the Saulnierville Legion on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 12-7 p.m. and the Digby Curling Centre on Monday, Nov. 9 from 12-7 p.m. s

But what happens in the health district beyond these clinics is uncertain.

A slate of previously announced clinics by South West Health district are basically in limbo as the vaccine supply situation is monitored on a daily basis, along with what next groups considered most at risk of developing complications from H1N1 is prioritized next.

Meanwhile, South West Health says it is seeing an increase in flu-like symptoms, but Mooney said they don’t know if all of the cases are the regular flu or H1N1.

“I can say we have a small number of admitted patients who are suspected of having H1N1,” he said Tuesday. “Certainly it’s not unexpected that we’re going to get more cases and more severe cases as this develops.”

But because not everyone who suspects they may have H1N1 will be swabbed to confirm that, it isn’t possible to ever know how many people for certain may have the swine flu, particularly if they only have a mild case of it.

On Wednesday, South West Health is opening a flu assessment clinic at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. It will be located where the ambulatory care desk is (located in the hallway on the ground floor between the elevators and diagnostic imaging).

“That will be for people who have flu-like symptoms who are coming into the emergency department. Instead of having them all huddled together in the emergency room, we are diverting them,” explained Mooney. He said someone coming into the hospital who may be headed for the emergency department will be asked if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms. If they are they will be sent to the assessment clinic.

“You will be screened, but probably not swabbed, to determine the severity of your illness,” said Mooney. “Essentially what we’re doing it we’re seeing an increase in people coming to the ER with flu-like symptoms. We’re going to try and divert some of those people.”



WHAT MAKES THE PEOPLE IN THE HIGH RISK GROUPS AT HIGH RISK WHEN IT COMES TO H1N1?

In a technical briefing with the media on Tuesday, Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s medical health officer, explained more about the high-risk groups getting vaccinated this week.



CHILDREN SIX MONTHS TO UNDER FIVE:

•They are most likely to get severely ill and require vaccination.

•Vaccine is not effective in children under six months.



PREGNANT WOMEN:

•At high risk of becoming severely ill and needing hospitalization.

•Will be able to pass antibodies to their unborn child.

•Can pass antibodies to their child through breastfeeding.



FIRST NATIONS:

•Across Canada have been disproportionately affected by H1N1 and are considered more likely to get severely ill and require hospitalization.

•8,943 people living on First Nations reserves in Nova Scotia.



FRONT-LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS:

•Work closely with sick Nova Scotians and more likely to be exposed to the virus. Need to maintain available healthcare workers to care for the public during the pandemic.



BY THE NUMBERS SO FAR: Vaccine Supply vs. Demand

Currently have 160,000 doses of adjuvanted vaccine

Total population of NS: 939,475

Nova Scotians under 65 with chronic illness: 472,279

Students in grades Primary-12: 133,000

Children aged six months to five years: 37,824

Total healthcare workers: 33,000

Residents of First Nations communities: 8,943

Pregnant women: 8,426 (does not include postpartum)