H1N1 appointments cancelled to shift vaccines to other communities

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Last week the confusion surrounding H1N1 vaccination programs seemed to get even more confusing for Rainy River residents.
A number of local people who had booked appointments with the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) were told their appointments were cancelled as vaccines were being diverted to Fort Frances. Other people were told that they were not in the high priority groups that qualify for the vaccine at this time, but could attend a public clinic this coming Thursday at Rainy River High School.
As the week progressed, it became clear that the public clinic would not be that at all. It in fact will be only for members of the priority groups.
When asked if vaccine is being diverted from Rainy River to Fort Frances, Director of Health Protection for the NWHU Arlene Lesenke said, “We are constantly reviewing vaccine distribution and supply to ensure there is enough H1N1 vaccine in each community in our catchment area to immunize everyone in the priority groups who wants to receive it.”
As for the appointment cancellations the local NWHU office said, “No priority groups have been cancelled.”
With vaccine supplies tightening at the government level NWHU is focusing its efforts on insuring all members of the priority groups that want the vaccine get it. NWHU says it is providing H1N1 immunization according to Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care sequencing guidelines, which means only people who fit into one of the following groups can get the vaccine right now:
•People under 65 with chronic conditions
•Healthy children 6 months to under five years of age
•People living in remote or isolated communities
•Health care workers
•Household contacts and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or who may not respond to vaccines.
“At this time everyone outside of these groups is asked to wait until we can offer the vaccine to the general public,” said Lesenke on Friday. There is no indication from NWHU when that might be as the delivery of vaccine supplies continues to lag federally.