Scrambling but coping in Frontenac and L&A

Jeff Green | Nov 05, 2009

For the most part, the roll out of the vaccination program through the 6 medical clinics in Frontenac and rural Lennox and Addington Counties has been smooth.

A clinic in Harrowsmith immunized 1,000 people last Thursday and in Sharbot Lake a similar number have received the vaccine at clinics on Thursday and this past Monday.

The waiting time at the rural clinics has ranged from a few minutes to 45 minutes, and the problems that have occurred in Kingston and Ottawa have not materialised thus far.

The only major issue has been the cancellation of the immunization clinic at the Sydenham Legion on Tuesday (November 3) because of supply problems late last week.

In response, the Sydenham Medical Centre has added a new clinic next Tuesday, (November 10) from 2-8 pm. The clinic is targeted, as are all of the scheduled clinics throughout the region this week and next, at people in the high risk categories for H1N1.

These include pregnant women, healthcare workers, children under 5, and adults aged between 18 and 65 with chronic conditions.

Other clinics that are upcoming over the next week are at the Verona Medical Centre on November 11 between 1 and 7 pm, at the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre on Monday, November 9 (1 - 7:30 pm), as well as Wednesday November 11) and Friday (November 13) between 9:30 and 11:30 am and 1:30 and 4:30 pm.

The Northbrook medical centre is immunizing people during regular clinic hours.

According to Lynn Wilson, the administrator or the Family Health Organization that encompasses clinics in Sydenham, Verona, Sharbot Lake, Newburgh, Tamworth and Northbrook, there has been a “bit of a scramble getting the vaccine to the clinics,” particularly due to the well documented nationwide shortfall this week, “but as of now (November 2) we have received about 3,900 doses and we expect we will continue to receive what we need,” Wilson said.

For now, only people within the high risk categories should be seeking immunization,

A decision to extend the vaccination to the general population will be made by Public Health Authorities, and could come as early as next week.

Unfortunately the virus has come on earlier than had been hoped, making the immunization program less effective, since it takes 3-4 weeks for he vaccine to take full effect.

In the meantime, the outbreak of H1N1 continues in the region, and there have been higher than normal rates f absenteeism in some of the local schools.

Assessment clinics have been set up at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team between 3 and 5, Monday to Friday, and a the Verona Medical Clinic on Monday-Thursday between 3 and 5 and Friday between 9 and 1:30.