Swine flu clinics open in Whitehorse, Yellowknife

H1N1 flu immunization clinics opened onMonday in Whitehorse and Yellowknife,as the swine flu vaccine became available across much of Canada.

Unlike in other Canadian jurisdictions, where the H1N1 vaccine is available only to health-care workers and certain high-risk groups, everyone across the North over the age of six months is eligible for the vaccine right now.

People in the Yukon and N.W.T. capital citiescan line up at mass immunization clinics at the following venues:

• Whitehorse Canada Games Centre, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
• Yellowknife Multiplex (DND Gym), 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

All hours listed are in the cities' respectivelocal time zones.

In Whitehorse, there was a 45-minute wait for the vaccine Monday morning as a steady stream of people lined up at the Canada Games Centre.

"I've been waiting patiently for this to come to Whitehorse," said Cheryl Huston, who arrived before the clinic even opened. "I figured the second it did I would be here signing up and getting my shot."

Flu clinic staff are working out procedural kinks that are leading to the delays, Health Department spokeswoman Pat Living told CBC News.

"Today's the first day, so we will have a few more stations set up, we'll have things a little more streamlined for tomorrow," Living said.

Yukon chief medical officer Dr. Brendan Hanley said he's pleased with the turnout so far, even with the delays.

Hanley is encouraging Yukoners only 25 per cent of whom usually get the flu shot, he said to roll up their sleeves and receive the H1N1 vaccine.

"Fortunately, we haven't had any severe cases or hospitalized cases, but we definitely are seeing an increase in flu activity," he said.

More clinics have been set up in thecoming weeksfor the Canada Games Centre and other venues around the city.

Asking questions

Those who plan to line up for the vaccine should not be in a hurry: health officials say flu clinic staffers will ask people if they have any risk factors such as chronic illness or pregnancy.

Vaccination clinics in other N.W.T. and Yukon communities will take place this week and throughout next month. Complete schedules have been posted on the websites of both territorial health departments.

In the N.W.T., special teams of nurses will travel to all communities including small, remote communities that are accessible only by air to administer the vaccine.

Health officials in the N.W.T.,which has been experiencing a fall wave of swine flu infections, say only those who have had lab-confirmed cases ofH1N1 influenzado not need to get vaccinated.

Nunavut will launch its flu vaccine campaign next week.

Clinical trials worldwide suggest that up to 85 per cent of healthy adults who are vaccinated will develop immunity within 10 days.