Manitoba will only receive 15,500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine next week, well below the expected 72,000 doses from the federal government.
Since Monday, 92,901 Manitobans have received the shot, which is an average of about 20,000 doses being administered daily. The initial delivery the province received was 134,000 doses, which have been going quickly since clinics opened.
Because of this shortage, flu clinics throughout Winnipeg will be cancelled Tuesday through Friday.
Active screening of those who show up to get the vaccine on Monday will be done, which means you must be on the priority list to get it. Dr. Brian Postl of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said on Thursday that screening patients in line would cause a potentially confrontational situation for staff.
The WRHA released a scaled version of the priority list for Monday:
- Children aged six months to under five years old;
- Anyone of Aboriginal ancestry (First Nations, Metis or Inuit);
- People under 55 with a severe chronic medical or other risk condition; and
- Pregnant women.
Further information will follow as to when the supply will once again reach demand and clinics can reopen.
ChrisD.ca photo
