Vaccinations for the H1N1 flu will end next week as occurrences of the illness and demand for the vaccine have both dried up.
The vaccine has been available at public health units since mass clinics ended in late January. Demand is now so low that clinics are delivering less than 10 doses per day in the entire Capital region. The vaccination program for H1N1 and seasonal strains ends March 31.
“There’s very little demand and there has been virtually no H1N1 circulating since January,” said Dr. Marcia Johnson, Alberta Health Services’ medical officer of health for the Edmonton area.
Vaccine will still be available to people travelling to the southern hemisphere, where it’s expected that a third wave of H1N1 will strike, Johnson said. Details on the continued availability of vaccine are still being worked out.
The vaccine is otherwise being stockpiled in case it’s needed again, she said.
Alberta managed to vaccinate about 1.3 million people, about a third of its population. There were about 351,000 people vaccinated in the Edmonton area, or 35 per cent of the population and 28,000 at St. Albert’s mass clinic.
The uptake was roughly half the 70 per cent that Alberta Health Services set as its target.
“I wish it was higher but … we’ve immunized 35 per cent of the population. That’s great. That means over one in three will be protected,” Johnson said.
The vaccination program stirred controversy shortly after it began Oct. 26 because vaccine was available to the general population rather than just high-risk groups. This prompted long line-ups and many complaints. After a week, the province switched to a targeted approach and lines became more manageable.
As of March 12, Alberta had 71 H1N1-related deaths and 1,276 hospitalized, confirmed cases.
