Government prefers high-risk groups for H1N1 shot

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Those waiting in line at the Garden City Shopping Centre for the H1N1 vaccine found inventive ways to make the wait endurable. (MIKE.APORIUS@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

THE LATEST STATISTICS:

47,177 The number of Manitobans vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus as of Thursday late afternoon.

134,000 The number of H1N1 vaccine doses Manitoba has received so far as part of the national allocation.

72,000 The number of doses expected to arrive in Manitoba later this week.

32 The total number of confirmed H1N1 cases in Manitoba since Oct. 1.

Most people with flu symptoms are not tested, so the actual number of cases is much higher.

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The federal government has sent out a warning to all provinces, including Manitoba, that it won’t be able to deliver the amount of H1N1 vaccine that it initially promised.

More than 205,000 doses of the vaccine have already been distributed to clinics around the province and as of late Wednesday, more than 67,000 flu shots had been administered.

In Winnipeg, over 47,000 people had been vaccinated as of 3 p.m. today. And the lineups continue at most clinics around the city. In fact, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said by 6:20 p.m., the following clinics were now full to capacity:

•        Point Douglas
•        St. James
•        Downtown
•        St. Boniface
•        Grant Park
•        Assiniboine South
•        St. Vital
•        Fort Garry

The WHRA expected that the remaining four clinics will also be full over the next half hour.
 

In an effort to get the vaccine to those who need it quickly, Manitoba is asking those who aren’t in high-risk groups to hold off for a bit until more supplies arrive.

Manitobans who should get the shot now include: children aged six months to five years old; anybody of aboriginal ancestry; the homeless; people living in remote areas; people under 65 years old with a chronic medical condition; anybody with a weakened immune system; those who live or care for infants under six months old; single parents or anyone solely responsible for a dependent; and health-care workers and medical first responders.

Pregnant women are being asked to consult with their doctor about the right type of vaccine to receive. A delivery of the vaccine without an adjuvant, which is specifically targetted to pregnant women, is expected next week.

School absentee levels

THE majority of school divisions in Manitoba, including the northern Frontier School Division and all Winnipeg school divisions, reported normal absentee levels Wednesday.

Divisions post daily school absenteeism on their websites: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/schools/schooldivmap.html.

When a report of unusual absenteeism is received, the school contacts public health for advice. Manitoba Health will not identify the presence of H1N1 in any community unless there is a compelling public health reason to do so.

Schools and divisions that reported higher-than-usual absentee rates.

Lakeshore School Division: Ashern Central, Ashern Early Years, Fisher Branch Early Years

Turtle River School Division: Alonsa School

Hanover School Division:

Green Valley School

Red River Valley School Division: Rosenort School

Prairie Rose School Division:

Elm Creek School K-12

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 29, 2009 A3