H1N1 vaccine shots schedule

The B.C. government has issued the following guidelines for when residents should expect to receive flu shots in this province.

Now:

Those people 65 and over and those living in long-term care homes are currently eligible to receive only the seasonal flu vaccine.

Week of Oct. 26:

Starting the week of Oct. 26, the people who will benefit most from pandemic H1N1 immunization, and who need and want to get vaccinated, will be able to receive that vaccine should they choose to do so. These groups include:

* Persons under the age of 65 with chronic conditions.

* Pregnant women.

* Persons living in remote and isolated settings or communities (including all First Nations people living on-reserve).

People who fall into these groups AND for whom the seasonal flu vaccine is normally recommended will be able to receive both shots at the same time.

People who do not fall into these groups are asked to put off receiving the H1N1 vaccine for a few weeks to allow those at most risk to get their vaccine first.

Week of Nov. 2:

Starting the week of Nov. 2, the people eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine will expand to include the following groups:

* All initial groups.

* Children 6 months to less than 5 years of age.

* Health-care workers (including all health-care system workers involved with the pandemic response or delivery of essential health services).

* Household contacts and care providers of infants less than 6 months of age, and persons who are immunocompromised.

People who fall into these groups AND for whom the seasonal flu vaccine is normally recommended will be able to receive both shots at the same time.

Mid- to late-November (when notified):

Beginning three or four weeks later, everyone else who needs and wants the H1N1 vaccine will be recommended to receive it. Public notification will happen at this time so that everyone is aware the vaccine is available to them.

Again, those people normally recommended to receive the seasonal flu vaccine will be able to get both shots at this time.

H1N1 VACCINE BY THE NUMBERS

223,500: The number of doses already in B.C. and ready for administration starting Oct. 26.

Four: The number of trucks that drove the vaccine to B.C.

351: The number of large shoe boxes required to hold all the vaccine doses

4,174,149: The total number of doses of adjuvanted vaccine that B.C. has ordered.

216,000: The number of doses of unadjuvanted vaccine that B.C. will receive in the second week of November – the province’s entire order.

Two: The number of half-doses children under 10 will need to receive, spread three weeks apart.

1.4 million: The number of doses of seasonal vaccine the Province purchases on a yearly basis to administer those in high-risk groups.

0-6: The ages, in months, of children who should not receive the H1N1 vaccine.

Four – six: The time, in weeks, in which B.C. expects all British Columbians who need and want the vaccine will be able to receive it.

For more information, go to www.immunizebc.ca