Hamilton is facing an H1N1 vaccine shortage as the federal and provincial governments scramble to acquire more of the medicine, says the city’s association medical officer of health.

Vaccination clinics are planned for Monday through Friday next week at the Chedoke Twin-pad Arena, but with the shortage looming, there is a chance some of them could be cancelled.
Ontario is supposed to receive about 700,000 doses per week of the vaccine, but now it is only getting about 170,000 doses, said Dr. Nith Tran, an associate medical officer of health.
As of Wednesday, Hamilton had only received about 81,500 doses of the vaccine, far less than is needed for the city’s estimated 500,000 population.

“It doesn’t cover even our first group,” said  Dr. Tran.

He said Hamilton public health officials will be looking to the province for direction, including whether or not to keep its four flu clinics open next week.

Clinics next week are planned for Dundas Baptist Church Monday through Thursday, while clinics at Chedoke, Jackson Square and St. Hellen's elementary school in the east end from Monday through Friday. All clinics run 1-7 p.m.

In the face of a potential shortage, city officials were more stringent this week in giving flu shots only to people in the high-priority groups.

“Since last week we were focused on priority groups,” said Dr. Tran.

He also urged people to continue to conduct safe procedures including coughing into your arm, washing hands, and if you feel sick to stay home from work or school.

Hamilton is expecting a smaller shipment of vaccine this week, but it is unknown how much of the vaccine it will get, he said.

“We are finalizing today what we will be doing next week,” said Dr. Tran.

The federal government contracted with GlaxcoSmithKlein to produce 50 million doses of the vaccine at its Quebec plant. So far, about six million doses have been distributed across the country.

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s long lines at its vaccine clinics slowly dissipated this week as the city opened more clinics, and concentrated on giving the flu shots to only those people in the high-priority groups.

Instead of eight clinics operating, the city had 18.

“The second week we managed to improve our efficiencies, said Dr. Tran.

Part of the reason is that the city’s public health distributed about 20,000 doses of the vaccine to about 350 doctors, and another 10,000 to 12,000 doses to hospitals. Over the last few weeks doctors’ offices had been flooded with phone calls from people asking for the H1N1 flu shot.

“There are definitely more choices for people to get their shots,” he said.

On the first day of clinics, Oct. 29, up to 2,000 lined up for shots.

When Vanessa Scheepers arrived around 1:30 p.m., the line was already heading down Chedmac Drive. By the looks of it, the mother of two and her mom appeared to be in for a three-hour wait. At least.

"It's daunting," said Ms. Scheepers. "But I'll stay."

Up until the previous weekend, she had been on the fence about getting the shot and immunizing her two-year-old daughter.

But the death of 13-year-old Evan Frustaglio, who died Oct. 26 after exhibiting flu-like symptoms at a hockey tournament the previous day, pushed her to rethink her stance.

"When that boy died, everyone panicked," said Ms. Scheepers, and that's what led to the huge line at clinics around the province.

There are 33 people in Hamilton with the virus in hospital with eight in the ICU.

Dr. Tran said the H1N1 flu is a different strain of the seasonal flu that some health officials are now suggesting there will be a third wave for the virus. Dr. Tran said it is nothing more than “speculation” about the H1N1 continuing into next year.

“There is a high-level of activity of the flu that will continue into next month,” he said. “Whether it goes into next year is nothing more than speculation.”

Meanwhile, the city opened two H1N1 Assessment Centres earlier this week at the Hamilton West End Assessment Centre at 690 Main Street West and the East End Assessment Centre at St. Joseph’s healthcare Urgent Care centre on King Street East.

Ontario health officials are trying to reach the goal of vaccinating two million high-risk residents against the H1N1 flu by Nov. 6.

It means vaccinating about 300,000 people every day.

The high-priority groups include pregnant woman, children from six months to five years of age, people who live with children under six months old, people under 65 with underlying medical conditions, immune-compromised people.

Opposition parties are accusing both the federal and provincial governments of the vaccination rollout as inadequate, continuing poor planning and miscommunication.

with files from Gord Bowes