Vaccine supply drops as flu cases surge in B.C.
Only 63,500 doses likely to be available in province next week
Times Colonist; Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009
B.C.'s supply of H1N1 flu vaccine will drop sharply next week because of manufacturing difficulties.
The vaccine supply problem is surfacing amid indications that the province is experiencing a surge of flu cases.
Over a two-week period up to this Friday, about 800,000 doses of flu vaccine will have been delivered to the province, Dr. Perry Kendall, B.C. provincial health officer, said at a news conference yesterday.
"By the end of the week we hope to have that in people's arms and we will have vaccinated 20 per cent of the population."
But next week, only 63,500 doses will likely be available in B.C.
"Obviously, receiving this limited amount will constrain our ability to continue to run clinics in that week," he said.
Kendall expects demand for the vaccine to outstrip supply for at least two weeks.
But everyone who wants a flu shot should be able to get it by Christmas, he said. "I would ask again that British Columbians be patient and wait their turn to receive the vaccine to allow the most vulnerable to be protected first."
The target group for vaccines was expanded this week to include children ages six months to five years, some front-line health-care workers, and people living with an infant under six months or someone with an immune system problem. They join pregnant women, people under 65 with chronic health problems, and people living in isolated or rural communities.
Kendall said incoming doses will be distributed to health authorities according to their populations. Doctors, including those in private clinics, are also eligible to receive an allotment, provided it is administered free and to specified target groups.
"I don't think we've hit the peak of H1N1 yet," said Kendall. "All our indicators are still showing increases in infection."
Doctor billings for flu visits are about eight times above normal, while lab positives for respiratory illness are up about 20 per cent from last winter's peak, and 200 per cent higher than three weeks ago, says the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Much of the increase is driven by higher than normal infection rates, but public anxiety may also help drive increases in physician and ER visits, said Travis Hottes, an epidemiologist at the centre. "This outbreak is much earlier than we would ordinarily see it, which is what we often see with pandemic viruses," he said.
In Greater Victoria, flu clinics were held yesterday at the University of Victoria and the Pauquachin First Nation near Sidney.
At the university, most people had to wait several hours, but public health officials said they expected that with the inclusion of children. Sandra Herbison, manager of public health units for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, said it takes longer to administer shots to young children.
At the UVic clinic, it was an all-out effort with volunteers, nurses and administrators taking a turn at giving the vaccines.
Volunteer Tom Ramsay, who was guiding people through the lines, said he thought most people handled the delays with courtesy and patience in a way he characterized as "very Canadian."
"They are as patient as they can be in this kind of a situation and they have been polite, despite the frustrations and their tiredness," said Ramsay.
At the Pauquachin First Nation, the first southern Vancouver Island reserve to hold a vaccination clinic, about 400 people turned up yesterday and similar numbers are expected today.
"It went quite well. We had chairs set up so people didn't have to wait outside and then we called numbers," said community health worker Lucia Bartleman.
Meanwhile, the Victoria Grizzlies of the B.C. Hockey League are getting back to full strength after nearly half the team came down with the flu, forcing the postponement of Saturday's game at Bear Mountain Arena.
"We're having a full recovery and will be good to go by Friday," the start of a back-to-back home set, said Grizzlies head coach Victor Gervais.
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