Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 12:49 AM on 24/10/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
H1N1 vaccine clinics to begin Monday
The Guardian

H1N1 vaccine clinics are scheduled to begin on Monday and as influenza activity increases across P.E.I., provincial Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated in the coming weeks to protect themselves and their families.

?Similar to other provinces across the country, we are seeing an increase in Influenza Like Illness (ILI) in Prince Edward Island,? said Morrison.

?During the past week specifically, we have noticed that surveillance data for the province is showing an increase in the amount of ILI activity here in P.E.I. We know that immunization is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious disease and we?re hoping that people will decide to get vaccinated over the coming weeks.?

As part of ongoing surveillance efforts, the chief health office collects information from various sources across the province to get an overall picture of how much flu activity is happening in the community.

This includes collecting information from the provincial laboratory, hospitals, pharmacies, schools and early learning centres, and sentinel physicians and tracking calls to the toll-free information line.

?Based on surveillance information to date, including the number of confirmed H1N1 cases, we have seen a recent increase in influenza-like activity on P.E.I.,? said Dr. Carolyn Sanford, provincial epidemiologist for the Department of Health. ?The information we collect is analyzed and interpreted to assist in informing health officials as to how much influenza activity is happening locally, nationally and internationally.?

Sanford works in the Epidemiology Unit of the Department of Health, which is primarily responsible for surveillance of both communicable and chronic disease.

In addition, national information is collected through participation in federal provincial and territorial groups and through surveillance programs by the Public Health Agency of Canada, such as Fluwatch, which is a program designed to inform health professionals on how much flu activity is happening on a national level. The chief health office monitors international data on influenza activity as well.

Clinics will begin on Monday for those who would benefit most from the vaccine as well as those who care for them. The program will be rolled out over the next four to six weeks and the schedule is based on the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The vaccine will be delivered by Public Health Nurses and others at no cost, at various sites across the province, including Public Health Nursing clinics, schools, health centres, correctional facilities and health-care facilities. For a complete list of the times and locations of upcoming clinics, watch the newspaper, visit www.gov.pe.ca/flu or call 1-888-748-5454 for further information.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=297273&sc=98

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Welcome to the Department of Health H1N1 Flu Virus Website

H1N1 VACCINE / WEEK OF OCTOBER 26TH /


Clinics in Queens County


Location: Sherwood Business Centre, Main Level (161 St. Peters Rd., Charlottetown)
<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=166></COL><COL width=166></COL><COL width=508></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>Dates

</TD><TD width=166>Times

</TD><TD width=508>Groups

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>October 26, 27

</TD><TD width=166>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=508>

• Health Care Workers
• Chronically ill under 65 years of age
• Household contacts of immune suppressed individuals
• Aboriginal population
  

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>October 28

</TD><TD width=166>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=508>

• Health Care Workers
• Chronically ill
• Household contacts of immune suppressed individuals
• Aboriginal population
• Children aged 6 months to school entry
• Household contacts of infants under 6 months of age

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>October 29, 30

</TD><TD width=166>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=508>

• Children aged 6 months to school entry
• Household contacts of infants under 6 months of age
• Aboriginal population

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Location: Polyclinic Building (199 Grafton Street, Charlottetown) <TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=166></COL><COL width=166></COL><COL width=508></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>Dates

</TD><TD width=166>Times

</TD><TD width=508>Groups

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>October 30

</TD><TD width=166>9:00 am-7:30 pm

</TD><TD width=508>

• Chronically ill under 65 years of age
• Household contacts of immune suppressed
• Healthcare workers
• Aboriginal population

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>






H1N1 VACCINE / WEEK OF OCTOBER 26TH /


Clinics in East Prince


Location: Credit Union Place (Wellness Centre), (511 Notre Dame St., Summerside)

<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=166></COL><COL width=166></COL><COL width=508></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>Dates

</TD><TD width=166>Times

</TD><TD width=508>Groups

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>October 26, 27, 28

</TD><TD width=166>9:00am-6:00pm

</TD><TD width=508>

• Health Care Workers
• Children aged 6 months to school entry
• Chronically ill under 65 years
• Household contacts of immune suppressed individuals
• Household contacts of infants under 6 months of age
• Aboriginal population

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=166>October 29

</TD><TD width=166>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=508>

• Same groups as above

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



H1N1 VACCINE / WEEK OF OCTOBER 26TH /

Clinics in West Prince


Location: Former Call Centre, West Prince Business Park, 51 Griffin Rd., Bloomfield Centre (located next to John Deere Dealership)
<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=278></COL><COL width=126></COL><COL width=436></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=278>Dates

</TD><TD width=126>Times

</TD><TD width=436>Groups

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=278>October 26, 27, 28

</TD><TD width=126>9:00am-6:00pm

</TD><TD width=436>

• Health Care Workers
• Children aged 6 months to school entry
• Chronically ill under 65 years
• Household contacts of immune suppressed individuals
• Household contacts of infants under 6 months old
• Aboriginal population

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=278>October 29

</TD><TD width=126>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=436>

• Same groups as above

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>




H1N1 VACCINE / WEEK OF OCTOBER 26TH /

Clinics in Kings County


SOURIS
<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=118></COL><COL width=118></COL><COL width=154></COL><COL width=436></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>Dates

</TD><TD width=118>Times

</TD><TD width=154>Location

</TD><TD width=436>Groups

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>October 26

</TD><TD width=118>9:00am-4:00pm

</TD><TD width=154>Souris Public Health Nursing Lower level of Souris Hospital
17 Knights Lane


</TD><TD width=436>

• Health Care Workers

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>October 27

</TD><TD width=118>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=154>St. Mary's Hall
66 Main St

</TD><TD width=436>

• Chronically ill under 65 years
• Household contacts of immune suppressed individuals

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>October 29

</TD><TD width=118>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=154>Souris Public Health Nursing

</TD><TD width=436>

• Health Care Workers
• Children aged 6 months to school entry
• Household contacts of infants under 6 months of age

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

MONTAGUE <TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=118></COL><COL width=118></COL><COL width=154></COL><COL width=436></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>Date

</TD><TD width=118>Time

</TD><TD width=154>Location

</TD><TD width=436>Group

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>October 26

</TD><TD width=118>9:00am-4:00pm

</TD><TD width=154>KCMH

</TD><TD width=436>

• Health Care Workers

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>October 28

</TD><TD width=118>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=154>Montague Wellness Centre Wood Islands Hill, Rd.

</TD><TD width=436>

• Chronically ill under 65 years of age
• Household contacts of immune suppressed individuals
• Aboriginal population

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>October 29

</TD><TD width=118>9:00am-7:30pm

</TD><TD width=154>Montague Public Health Nursing
126 Douses Rd

</TD><TD width=436>

• Children aged 6 months to school entry
• Household contacts of infants under 6 months of age
• Aboriginal population

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- CONTENT ENDS --><!-- CONTENT ENDS -->


H1N1 VACCINE / WEEK OF OCTOBER 26TH /

Clinics on First Nations Reserves


Location: Lennox Island Health Centre, Lennox Island & Abegweit Wellness Centre, Scotchford
<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=178></COL><COL width=298></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=178>Dates

</TD><TD width=298>Times

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=178>October 27


</TD><TD width=298>9:00 am-Noon
1:00 pm-4:00 pm
5:00 pm-7:00 pm


</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=178>October 28


</TD><TD width=298>9:00 am-Noon


</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=178>October 29


</TD><TD width=298>9:00 am-Noon
1:00 pm-4:00 pm


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Location: Rocky Point Health Office, Rocky Point <TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width="100%" border=1><COLGROUP><COL width=118></COL><COL width=358></COL></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>Dates

</TD><TD width=358>Times

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=118>October 28


</TD><TD width=358>5:00 pm-7:00 pm


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://www.gov.pe.ca/flu/index.php3?number=1029664&lang=E

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Lineups long for flu shots in P.E.I.

Last Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009 | 2:29 PM AT

CBC News


In the first hour and a half, this clinic in Charlottetown gave 600 people the vaccine. (CBC)

People lined up two hours in advance of the opening of the swine flu vaccine in Charlottetown Monday.

On the first day of H1N1 immunization in P.E.I. and most of the rest of the country, people started lining up outside the Sherwood Business Centre in Charlottetown at 7 a.m. The clinic opened at 9 a.m., and by 10:30 up to 600 people had received their shots.

"As a person with a compromised immune system, I have been told by my infectious specialist in Moncton, 'Get the flu shot as soon as it was available,'" said George Clark Dunning, who is HIV positive.

"We've been listed as people with chronic conditions to be in the first wave of people to get the vaccine, so the sooner I get it the sooner I can start feeling a little bit more secure about my own health."

In the queue was P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz and his wife, Kate Ellis Ghiz, who are on the list because they have a four-month-old daughter at home. Ghiz's wife, a doctor, also qualifies to receive the vaccine this week.

"This is something that our chief health officer says is a good thing to get and we want to make sure that we do everything we can to really help reduce the chances of this becoming a pandemic," said Ghiz.

"I'd rather in six months or a year's time, people look back and say, 'Oh the media overreacted or the government overreacted,' rather than it be the other way around where we didn't do enough ? I think it's better we're safe rather than sorry."

The program is being rolled out over the next four to six weeks at sites across the province, with the government laying out priorities for who gets the shot first.


During this first week, the H1N1 vaccine will be provided to the following groups:

• Health-care workers.
• Household contacts of children younger than six months.
• Children six months of age up to school entry.
• People with chronic conditions (under the age of 65).
• Care providers of people who are immune compromised.
• First Nations and aboriginals.

Monday's clinics are being held in Charlottetown at the Sherwood Business Centre; in Summerside at Credit Union Place; in West Prince at the Business Park in Bloomfield; in the lower level of the Souris Hospital and at King's County Memorial Hospital in Montague.

The vaccine is free.

The provincial government website contains a complete list of times and locations of upcoming clinics.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/10/26/pei-swine-flu-vaccinations-584.html

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 4:55 PM on 30/10/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Vaccine shortage forces province to delay elementary school clinics


It could be mid- to late-next week before enough vaccine arrives to begin swine flu program in Island schools

BY WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian


<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P>Plans to vaccinate Island children for the swine flu have been put on hold because of a national shortage of the vaccine.</O:P>

The province has used almost all of its current supply. It had hoped to get another 18,000 to 20,000 doses next week but that?s not going to happen.

The province may only get 2,000-3,000 doses of the vaccine, and much of that will be needed to complete the vaccination process for high risk groups not completed this week.

It could be mid- to late-next week before the elementary school vaccination process gets underway.
Meanwhile the swine flu continues to spread at Island schools.

Thirteen Island schools have an outbreak, which means 10 per cent of the school population has what is believed to be swine flu.

Those schools are listed below.
<O:P></O:P>

Affected Schools

Birchwood Intermediate School
Bluefield High School
Charlottetown Rural High School
Donagh Regional School
L.M. Montgomery School
Mount Stewart Consolidated School
Sherwood Elementary School
Stonepark Intermediate School
Kensington Intermediate/Senior High School
ME Callaghan Intermediate School
O'Leary Elementary School
St Louis Elementary School
Ecole Saint-Augustin

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=299054&sc=98

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Despite Shortages Across Canada PEI Runs Effective H1N1 Vaccination Program

Source: The Government of Prince Edward Island
Posted on: 2nd November 2009

The Department of Health is pleased with the cooperation of the public during the first week of the H1N1 vaccination program on PEI.

Over 24,000 people in Prince Edward Island were vaccinated this week during the first week of the province?s vaccination program.

?We would like to thank Islanders for their patience as we roll out the largest vaccination program in the history of our province,? said Health Minister Doug Currie. ?We are pleased at the amount of people we were able to vaccinate during our first week and we will continue to target those who are most at risk.?

?This past week, we received a lower-than-expected supply of H1N1 influenza vaccine,? said Dr. Heather Morrison, Chief Health Office for the Department of Health. ?We are pleased with our decision to focus first on those at highest risk for complications from the H1N1 Flu Virus, as identified nationally by the Public Health Agency of Canada because this reinforces the fact that our decision to target those at highest risk is appropriate.?

Provinces receive their vaccine supply through the Public Health Agency of Canada and the vaccine is delivered to provinces on a week-to-week basis per capita. Based on the reduction of vaccine arriving in the province this week, the province has adjusted their vaccination schedule to make the most effective use of the vaccine currently available. ?At this point, our vaccination schedule relies heavily on how much vaccine we receive from the national supplier,? said Dr. Morrison.

Half of the expected vaccine doses allotted from the national supply for the coming week, arrived in the province on Thursday and was distributed to sites across the province to continue to vaccinate those at highest risk. With remaining doses, the focus will be to continue to target those in high risk groups.

This week, the province plans to continue to hold clinics for high risk groups, such as children aged six months to school entry and household contacts of infants under six months of age and those with chronic health conditions under the age of 65. All remaining health care workers, pregnant women and aboriginal population are being targeted this week as well.

The province is also expecting to receive their first shipment of unadjuvanted vaccine on Monday and will begin holding additional clinics for pregnant women this week. As well, in keeping with the original vaccine rollout schedule, the province will move into elementary schools later this week to start vaccinating children in elementary schools, starting with students up to and including Grade 3.

Other high risk groups, such as those with egg allergies who have underlying health conditions will also be targeted this week. Those who have egg allergies are encouraged to call the province?s toll-free line (1-888-748-5454) to have their name added to a list, if they have not done so already.

For further information on upcoming clinics, the public should watch for advertisements, visit www.gov.pe.ca/flu or call 1-888-748-5454 for the most up-to-date information on immunization clinics.

http://thegovmonitor.com/health/despite-shortages-across-canada-pei-runs-effective-h1n1-vaccination-program-13253.html

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD background=images/dash.gif height=1></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 12:13 AM on 10/11/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>More Islanders in hospital with swine flu

TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD class=photoCaption vAlign=top width="100%" height="100%"><TABLE height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=photoCaption>Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I. chief health officer, gestures as she speaks during a media briefing in Charlottetown Monday regarding an update on the H1N1 issue. With her are Dr. Lamont Sweet, left, deputy chief health officer, and Health Minister Doug Currie. Guardian photo by Brian McInnis</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


There was a jump this week in Islanders hospitalized with swine flu and assessment clinics have been seeing thousands of patients, but vaccines are still in short supply and will continue to be for a few more weeks.

On Wednesday, the Island will receive its shipment of H1N1 vaccines, but due to a continuing national shortage, P.E.I. will only get 4,500 doses. P.E.I. was supposed to receive shipments of 18,000 every week, but when the vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline had to stop producing adjuvanted vaccines to make the non-adjuvant type for pregnant women, production of the regular vaccine halted and led to shortages across Canada.

As a result, the planned schedule for vaccinations has been delayed by a week and to date, only those with underlying health conditions, children aged six months to school age, household contacts of children under six months and children in Grades 1 to 3 have been vaccinated.

Today, the vaccine clinic in Charlottetown will open for the remaining people in the first priority high-risk group.

They will be immunized with 500 vaccines the Health Department received from the Canadian Armed Forces, left over from military vaccinations last week.

On Thursday and Friday, children in Grades 4, 5 and 6 will be immunized, as will some junior high-aged students if their schools contain those younger grades.
P.E.I.?s Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said she understands people are concerned about the virus, but that vaccine shortages are a national problem.

?We get (the vaccine) on a week-by-week basis and it has not been the amount we had expected, but we?re not alone and all the provinces are getting a reduced amount,? Morrison said during a media briefing Monday.

?We are relying on the vaccine we receive from our national supplier.?

Despite the vaccine shortage, the H1N1 has been spreading across P.E.I. causing marked absenteeism in schools last week and a surge of patients in health centres across the Island.

So far 29 Islanders have been hospitalized with the swine flu, three of which were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Morrison said there are others who have also been hospitalized with influenza-like illness as well, but tests have not yet come back to confirm whether they too have H1N1.

There is hope the virus may soon ease up, however.
A total of 2,037 Islanders have attended the H1N1 assessment clinics but the numbers of people presenting is starting to level off. Only 11 schools reported over 10 per cent absenteeism Monday compared to 21 on Friday.

In western P.E.I. the outbreak appears to be subsiding significantly. That?s why the Health Department has decided to close the assessment site in O?Leary tonight.

?It?s not necessary to keep this site open after (Tuesday) night because of the numbers, but if it needs to be reopened we will do so,? Morrison said.

Morrison said she is happy to see some leveling off of new cases in parts of P.E.I., but she is remaining cautious and urged Islanders to continue to be vigilant.

?We haven?t seen that continued sharp spike (in new cases) over the weekend, but I really remain cautious,? Morrison said.

?But our concern is to continue to provide services for people who are sick and to try to get the vaccine into as many people as we can.

On Saturday one last vaccination clinic will be held across the province with any remaining vaccines for the first priority high-risk group.

The general public will be vaccinated in two weeks. People are also encouraged to get vaccinated even if they believe they have already contracted the swine flu.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=301941&sc=98

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Island H1N1 clinics to open soon for general public

Last Updated: Saturday, November 14, 2009 | 10:08 PM AT

CBC News


Chief health officer Dr. Heather Morrison says more doses of the vaccine are coming and fewer people are sick. (CBC)
Swine flu vaccination clinics could be opened up to the general public on P.E.I. within two weeks, according to health officials.

About 3,800 new doses of the vaccine became available Friday for healthy people aged 10 to 64, including pregnant women, said Dr. Heather Morrison, the province's chief health officer.

That's because Health Canada approved the use of adjuvant-free vaccine, which does not contain an additive that boosts the immune system's response to a vaccine but still provides adequate protection for that group, she said.

"We're going to be keeping just over 600 doses aside for the remaining pregnant women," Morrison said.

"The remaining doses, so 3,200 approximately, are being divided up across the island.

"Our goal is to get as many people vaccinated, especially in the high-risk groups as soon as we can," she said, with clinics in Montague, Souris, Summerside, Charlottetown and O'Leary.

"They'll be for people between the ages of 18 and 64 with chronic health conditions, those who are caregivers of those less than six months of age, or who are immune-supressed, and also those who are of aboriginal or First Nations community as well."

Morrison expects another 8,000 doses of the adjuvant version of the vaccine to arrive next week. They will be used to vaccinate the remaining students in junior high and high school.

And up to 20,000 more doses should arrive the following week, when clinics are expected to be opened up to people over 65 with chronic health conditions and the general public.
Numbers decreasing

The number of Islanders showing symptoms of swine flu appears to be dropping, officials said.

So far, 36 people have been admitted to hospital due to the swine flu, and six remain in hospital.

Only three P.E.I. schools have more than 10 per cent of the population out sick.

As a result, the hours of P.E.I.'s only remaining flu assessment centre have been reduced.

The centre, at the Harbourside Family Health Centre in Summerside, will now operate from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., health officials said. It had been operating until 8 p.m.

The assessment centres in Charlottetown, Souris and O'Leary were previously closed.

Health officials will continue to monitor the situation and reactivate the centres, if necessary.

People experiencing flu-like symptoms are urged to visit a walk-in clinic, their family doctor or the nearest emergency room.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/11/14/pei-swine-flu-general-public-584.html

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

H1N1 costs P.E.I. $5M

Last Updated: Monday, November 23, 2009 | 6:55 AM

CBC News


Health Minister Doug Currie said the cost of the flu was planned for. (CBC)


Delivering the vaccine and other preparations for swine flu have cost P.E.I. about $5 million so far, says Health Minister Doug Currie.

Currie told CBC News Friday the vaccine itself cost about $336,000, and that was cost-shared with the federal government 60-40. But $2.5 million was spent on supplies and another $250,000 on new ventilators, among other costs.

"The staffing, the advertising, public awareness, PSA campaigns ? it's obviously something that we knew was coming," said Currie.

"In the spring as we rolled out the plan and anticipated what it was going to cost the province."

The federal government has said it is open to talking about the cost of the H1N1 flu pandemic after it is over, he said.

Health officials anticipate opening up vaccinations to the general public as early as Friday or Saturday.

Chief health officer Dr. Heather Morrison said the timing will depend on when the vaccine arrives this week. Clinics will first be held for people over 65 with chronic health conditions, then children between six months and three years will get their second dose of vaccine.

Following that, vaccinations will be open to the general public.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/11/23/pei-swine-flu-costs-584.html

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

H1N1 clinics to close in P.E.I.

Last Updated: Thursday, December 10, 2009 | 4:49 PM ET

CBC News

H1N1 mass vaccination clinics in P.E.I. will begin to wind down next week, provincial health officials said Thursday.

Dr. Heather Morrison, the province's chief public health officer, said after next week, the clinics for the rest of December will only be available on certain days by appointment through public health nursing offices.

"Those will continue so that we can offer the vaccine for those who may have missed the clinic times, also for students, for instance, who are coming home from university who didn't get the vaccine in the other provinces," she said.

Morrison said the virus continues to circulate in the community and immunization against the swine flu is still important.

She said slightly more than half the population ? 52 per cent ? of Islanders have been vaccinated so far.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/12/10/pei-h1n1-clinics-closing-584.html

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Young men in P.E.I. avoiding H1N1 shot

Last Updated: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 | 4:50 PM AT

CBC News

Health officials in P.E.I. are urging men in their 20s to be vaccinated against H1N1 after noticing many more females in the same age group have gotten the shot.

Dr. Heather Morrison, the province's chief public health officer, said young men should take advantage of the mass public immunization clinics that wrap up this week.

"We have about 27 per cent of the males in the age group of 20 to 29 who have received their vaccine to date, while 45 per cent of females in the age group of 20 to 29 have received their vaccine," she said.

Morrison said the results were not surprising.

"Young men certainly don't seek medical attention to the same degree that females do," she said. "From our experience, certainly, males seem more reluctant to get a needle than females."

After the public clinics wind down this week, swine flu vaccination shots will be available in P.E.I. only through appointments at a public health nursing office.

So far, approximately 78,000 Islanders have received the H1N1 vaccine.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/12/16/pei-h1n1-vaccine-men-584.html

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Demand may keep Charlottetown H1N1 clinic open

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 | 10:17 PM AT

CBC News

The Prince Edward Island health department may keep the Charlottetown H1N1 vaccination clinic open a little longer due to steady demand.

Tuesday was supposed to mark the last opportunity for Islanders to get vaccinated against the virus at a public clinic. But health officials might change that plan in the province?s capital.

On Tuesday, there was a steady line of people waiting to get their shot at the Charlottetown clinic.

In every other part of the province, however, traffic has slowed to the point where clinics are no longer needed. Instead, Islanders are now making appointments through the public health office.

That was to be the plan for Charlottetown starting on Wednesday. But now the health department is debating an extension of the public clinic.

Last week, 600 people got their H1N1 shot in a matter of four hours at the clinic, said Lamont Sweet, the deputy chief health officer.

The turnout was similar on Tuesday.

The health department says it will review Tuesday?s numbers to see if another clinic is necessary next week.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/12/29/pei-h1n1-clinics.html

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 12:24 AM on 04/01/10 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Islanders still lining up for H1N1 vaccine
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian

Despite a major slowdown in new illness on P.E.I., Islanders have continued to line up for H1N1 vaccinations in higher than expected numbers.

Last week, the province held what it believed would be its last public vaccine clinic in Charlottetown. But when over 500 people showed up, it became clear many Islanders are still interested in getting immunized against the swine flu.

?It has not slowed down nearly as much as we expected,? said the province?s deputy chief health officer, Dr. Lamont Sweet.

?It?s surprising that we?re still getting over 100 people an hour coming through at the Charlottetown clinic.?

With news of yet another swine flu death in New Brunswick, health officials expect demand for the vaccine to continue in the new year.

That?s why the province will hold another public vaccine clinic in Charlottetown sometime in January and will offer H1N1 vaccinations by appointment at public health offices in other areas of the province.

?We have more vaccine and we really want to get more people done,? Sweet said.

It is estimated close to 80,000 Islanders have received the swine flu shot since it became available in late October. This represents almost 60 per cent of Islanders ? double the number of residents health officials predicted would get the vaccine.

?Across the country, the prediction was that we would get about a third of people or about 33 per cent coming in,? Sweet said.

He said he is happy to see so many people taking advantage of the free vaccine, as it will mean a lesser likelihood of a third wave hitting P.E.I.

?Since we now have close to 80,000 people here immunized and we probably have another 30,000 to 40,000 who actually got the influenza, we?re going to have a large number of immunized and immune people,? Sweet said.

The H1N1 flu virus itself has slowed down considerably from the outbreak experienced across the Island in November.

While influenza-like symptoms continue to be seen in some Island patients, no one has been admitted to hospital with the swine flu virus in the last week.

Sweet said he believes the sickness is close to dying off on P.E.I.

?We?re getting extremely few new cases now,? he said.

?We can?t say for sure that it?s completely gone and we know there?s still cases being isolated in Canada, but we?ve had a real decrease in the number of cases and we?re not getting seriously ill people or hospitalizations due to H1N1 now.?

But he warned people to continue to be vigilant, especially in the event a third wave does hit the country and the province.

?It could still happen. We hope not, but that?s still possible and it could happen in the winter or spring or possibly even later,? Sweet said.

Over 400 Canadians were killed by the H1N1 virus in 2009.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=315241&sc=98

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Re: Prince Edward Island - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Demand for H1N1 vaccine still high on P.E.I.

Last Updated: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 | 1:08 PM ET

CBC News


P.E.I. health officials are pleasantly surprised by the number of Islanders who are still getting the H1N1 vaccine.

Deputy chief health officer Lamont Sweet expects the increased demand is part of holiday planning. (CBC)

Walk-in clinics are almost all done, but an average of 450 people a week are booking appointments for the vaccine.
Deputy chief health officer Dr. Lamont Sweet speculates the recent increase may be prompted by people planning vacations.

"Many of them are going to the Caribbean, Mexico, southern areas, and flu circulates year-round in the tropical areas," said Sweet.

"While we don't have any positives now coming in as far as H1N1 in Prince Edward Island, there is circulation of H1N1 in the tropical areas."

More than 81,000 Islanders have received the H1N1 vaccine, close to 60 per cent of the population. More than 2,000 children have received two doses of the vaccine.

Sweet said there hasn't been a confirmed case on P.E.I. in four weeks. He noted there have been recent reports of people with flu-like symptoms.

Anyone still wanting a vaccine can call the public health nursing office to set up an appointment.

One final open clinic is planned in Charlottetown on Feb. 2 at the Sherwood Business Centre from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/01/19/pei-vaccine-flu-demand-584.html