Toronto H1N1 clinics close early

inncanada

Last Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009 | 3:03 PM ET Comments20Recommend13   CBC News

Toronto's two H1N1 vaccination clinics are turning away people after being swamped by large numbers of those looking to get vaccinated against swine flu.

The clinic at the East York Civic centre stopped accepting new arrivals at 2 p.m., while the clinic at North York Civic Centre was closed by 12:45 p.m., less than one hour after it opened.

At the East York Civic Centre, the line snaked outside and down Coxwell Avenue, with parents and children covered up against the chill on an overcast and gloomy day.

"We've got a bag full of treats and some lunch, colouring books, sticker books to read," said Susan Allen, who was waiting in line with her three children, all under six years old.

"We've got a chair to sit on. We tried to get into a line yesterday and decided it wasn't worth it at that point and knew that with this clinic opening [Thursday], it would be a better option to come here."

At the North York Civic Centre clinic, it was a similar scene, as hundreds of people showed up beginning early in the morning.

There were an estimated 1,000 people crowding the building, spilling out into Mel Lastman Square and even further to Yonge Street, waiting for the vaccination lines to start moving.

"We're not going to be able to handle any additional immunizations," Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's chief medical officer of health told a news conference Thursday afternoon, 45 minutes after the North York clinic officially opened.

"We have laid on additional staff to try and handle as many people as we can, but we have taken the decision we will have to close the lineup at this point."

Both clinics were scheduled to remain open until 7 p.m.

Two clinics will also be opened Friday while four are scheduled for Saturday.

Public should wait
Toronto expanded its H1N1 vaccination program Thursday, but only for people in certain priority groups. The general public is being asked to wait until Monday to get their shots.

The groups that public health officials want to reach first are pregnant women, children aged six months to five years, health-care workers and people under 65 with chronic health conditions. They are considered most likely to contract the H1N1 influenza A virus.

But when the two Toronto clinics opened at noon, the crowds were already too large for officials to accommodate.

McKeown had earlier warned that the clinics would be busy and that people wanting to get immunized would have to be patient.

The general public, he said, should not try to jump the queue.

Many more H1N1 vaccine clinics will open Monday in Toronto. (Canadian Press)
"Demand is likely going to increase, and that's why we're advising people to be patient and try and allow the priority groups to get in and get immunized first, because those are the groups that are going to have more serious illness if they are exposed," McKeown said.

At Queen's Park, Health Minister Deb Matthews said Thursday her department has taken extra measures to ensure the H1N1 vaccine is available across the province.

"We do have more than enough supply for the province of Ontario. I am asking that highest-risk groups go first, and that those of us who do not fall into that high-risk group wait a little bit to get the vaccine. Let those who need it the most go first."

Starting Monday, there will be 10 clinics across Toronto providing shots for the general public.

Other regions in the GTA have similar clinics. People are asked to check with their local health authority for times and locations.


Clinics for priority groups
Thursday

North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St., noon – 7 p.m.

East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave., noon – 7 p.m.

Friday

Metro Hall, 55 John St., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday

Timothy Eaton Business and Technical Institute, 1251 Bridletowne Circle, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Melody Public School, 24 Strathburn Blvd. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

digging

2 clinics for the population of Toronto, is this a joke or what.  I hope the kids weren't infected while waiting in line.

inncanada

2 clinics for the population of Toronto, is this a joke or what.  I hope the kids weren't infected while waiting in line.

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