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Published - Nov 5th, 2009
By Francis Baker
Hundreds of people lined up Monday morning to get the H1N1 vaccine at the first Public Health clinic run in Centre Wellington.
They started arriving hours before the clinic, at 855 St. David Street North, was due to open - as early as 6 a.m.
By 9 a.m. the line stretched around the parking lot and along the sidewalk, and cars lined nearby residential streets – others had parked in lots across St. David Street.
One of those at the head of the line said she arrived that early because she has serious underlying health conditions, and wanted to be sure to get a shot.
Her doctor never called her to come in, and she couldn't get an appointment.
Others near the front of the line had similar stories. None of those at the head of the line wanted to be identified.
One family drove up from Guelph to line up before 7 a.m., hoping to salvage a work day. Going to the Guelph clinic, which opened at 1 p.m., would have lost the father a day's work.
Another said doctors had stopped giving out appointments for the shot, and some no longer answered office phones.
"We heard there were 700,000 shots (distributed) and 500,000 are already gone," one woman said.
Another said a relative who lives in Ottawa spent hours in a lineup there from 4 a.m., and never got close enough to the clinic doors to even get a wristband handed out to prioritize people in the line. He'll have to line up again in the hopes of getting a shot later.
Others were angry little children and seniors had to stand out in the open for hours to get the vaccine. It was sunny Monday morning, but cold - only 2 degrees C at 9 a.m.
"Why couldn't they give it to the kids in school?" one woman said. "This is nuts."
Many people were there with young children; a few elderly people had brought lawn chairs. At one point, someone near the head of the line arrived with a large box of donuts and tray of coffee, and passed them around. A group of children created an impromptu play area in a taped-off square in the parking lot.
People said the lineup was friendly - people were chatting and sharing information during the wait.
Staff came out before the clinic opened its doors just before 9 a.m. and told people the H1N1 shot would only be available to the high risk groups identified by the provincial health ministry.
At least one person who'd been in line for over an hour left then because they weren't in a risk group, and people in line said the crowd applauded the person's decision.
Just after doors open another staff person made the same announcement to people near the end of the line on the Woodhill Drive sidewalk.
"If you're in a priority group, we suggest you come back to a clinic later when we have more vaccine," she told the group.
In a statement released Monday morning, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health says staff will screen people going to clinics this week to ensure only those at a high risk of developing complications from the virus will get a shot.
The priority groups are:
• People under 65 who have a chronic health condition.
• Pregnant women.
• Children between six months and five years of age.
• Caregivers of infants under six months old, or caregivers of people at high risk who can't get the vaccine.
• Health care workers.
Earlier, public health decided to give out seasonal flu shots at the clinics as well - and it's still available for anyone who wants a shot.
On Monday, the health unit was advising people to check with their doctors to find out if they c0uld get a shot there, as all doctors in the area who requested vaccine have received it.
By 4 p.m. Friday, the health unit's clinic in Guelph - the first in the area - had vaccinated 2,000 people.
"We think we have enough vaccine to reach mid-week. But will likely face a shortage the week after," health unit communications specialist Linda Zdeb said in an email update late Friday afternoon.
She said then clinics will continue as earlier planned. People are advised to check the health unit's website, www.wdghu.org for up-to-date information as public health adjusts clinics in accordance with vaccine supply.
According to the website as of Monday morning, only Monday's clinic in Fergus was expected to remain open for extended hours until 8 p.m.
The 855 St. David Street North location is the only location open in Centre Wellington until the health unit building holds public clinics Dec. 29 and 30.
The schedule is Mondays 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays 1-8 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The health unit's flu hotline, for information, is 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4161. The website is www.wdghu.org - the latest information is on the home page.
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