Squamish residents are being urged to get the H1N1 vaccine starting next week. Local public health workers will set up a drop-in clinic at Brennan Park Leisure Centre from Monday to Thursday (Nov. 2 to 5) with shots for the most vulnerable segment of the population vaccination for the potentially deadly H1N1 flu virus.
There have been five cases of H1N1 in the Sea to Sky Corridor since April, all of whom have recovered, said public health officer Dr. Paul Martiquet. However those who may believe the H1N1 is a mild illness should think again.
"This pandemic flu strain is killing young people, some of which the vast minority have no underlying condition," he said. "There are several cases that have happened internationally where young people without pre-disposing health conditions have died, and we can't explain that."
Vaccination will take place in three phases over three weeks starting Nov. 2, said Martiquet.
The first phase is open to pregnant women, First Nations people and the chronically ill under 65 years of age.
"They're at the highest risk," said Martiquet.
On Monday (Nov. 2), shots are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Tuesday (Nov. 3) the clinic runs from 3 to 7 p.m., the Wednesday (Nov. 4) clinic is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Thursday (Nov. 5) drop-in runs from 2 to 6 p.m.
Next week's drop-in clinics will offer shots to children six months of the seven years of age and health care workers.
The second phase runs Monday Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday Nov. 10 from 3 to 7 p.m., Thursday Nov. 12 from 2 to 6 p.m., and Friday Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
By the third week, the general population will have an opportunity to get vaccination shots.
The final drop-in runs Monday Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday Nov. 17 from 3 to 7 p.m., Wednesday Nov. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 19 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Martiquet said fears that the vaccine was improperly tested for fast-tracking are unfounded.
"The vaccine has been fast-tracked simply in a bureaucratic way in that instead of that application for that particular vaccine going to the bottom of the pile, it goes to the top of the pile. That's a good thing [because] we're seeing skyrocketing rates of influenza-like illness in British Columbia."
And the recent discovery that the H1N1 vaccine is compatibility with regular, seasonal flu shots is also good news, said Martiquet.
"Remember, we initially thought that you couldn't get the two vaccines together, so actually if you are at high risk, you can get one [shot] in one arm, the other in the other arm. You don't have to come back twice, so that's a plus.
"It's a safe and effective vaccine that basically will help, in about 90 per cent of the cases, avert you from having any serious implications of being exposed to the H1N1 virus."
