It was a turnout that no one expected, as more than 3,500 people came out for the region’s first H1N1 vaccination clinic on Wednesday at the Halton Regional Centre.

But not everyone who wanted a shot was able to get one.

By the time the clinic opened a half-hour early at 3:30 p.m., a lineup of approximately 1,500 people snaked its way inside the centre’s hallways and continued outside, halfway around the exterior of the large building.

The site was closed to additional members of the public at 6:45 p.m. While the clinic was intended to remain open until 8 p.m., the last shot was administered at approximately 12:40 a.m.

The majority of those in line were parents with small children. Many were not prepared for the cool weather or the long wait.

“We were very surprised by the turnout,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton Region’s medical officer of health. “I thank people for being so patient and pleasant. We know it isn’t easy standing in line for that long. I also commend all of our staff for staying until the very end.”

Nosal said the turnout was unexpected, as polls had indicated that not many Canadians were interested in the H1N1 vaccination. However, the deaths of a 13-year-old in Etobicoke and a pre-teen girl in the Ottawa area this week and the corresponding media coverage may have encouraged more people to get the vaccine, he added.

“Certainly with the media coverage, people have been hearing the messaging we’ve been putting out,” he said. “The real rush may also have to do with the unfortunate deaths of two kids this week. When those two kids’ pictures are put on the front page of a national newspaper, people certainly take notice.”

Traffic was snarled on Bronte Road, as parked cars overflowed from the Halton Regional Centre’s parking lot onto both sides of Bronte Road. At one point, the road was closed due to safety concerns.

Bylaw officers were handing out $60 tickets to many of those parked illegally in the afternoon, which stopped once police and the Health Department was informed of this, according to Nosal. He said staff is appealing to the Town of Oakville to rescind the tickets.

Health staff was added shortly after the clinic opened to help reduce wait times. Nosal said more than 50 health staff were working at Wednesday’s clinic.
 
The health department is considering adding extra staff and extending hours for future clinics. Changes in clinic times will be posted on the region’s website at www.halton.ca.
 
This week’s clinics were intended to be for only those at high risk, such as 17-year-old Oliver Edridge, who has brain cancer and was waiting in line in a wheelchair with his mother, Leslie, and 11-year-old sister, Haylee.

“We came out today because Oliver has brain cancer and is at high risk,” said Leslie. “We’ve always gotten flu shots. I’ve always read about the problems and side effects, but it has still always been worth it for our family.”

Leslie said she worries about her family contracting H1N1, as many students in Haylee’s Grade 6 class at Tom Thomson Public School in Burlington are away sick with flu-like symptoms.

The family was near the back of the line when they arrived at 3:30 p.m., as it took them 30 minutes to find a parking spot. After waiting for an hour, health staff moved the family ahead of the hundreds already waiting due to Oliver’s condition. Leslie was greatly relieved about this.

“He couldn’t stay outside in this weather for hours in his condition,” she said as she wheeled him indoors.

Nosal asks the public to give those in the high-risk groups, such as health care workers, pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy, children aged six months to five years, and chronically ill people under age 65, first access to the clinics held before Nov. 2.

“For the rest of the week, please, if you are not in the target risk groups, wait until Monday,” he said.

Despite the long wait on Wednesday, many people said they felt that the health department was doing everything it could. Halton was not the only region with higher than anticipated turnouts, as Peel and York regions were also flooded with people wanting the vaccine.

The first person in line at Wednesday’s clinic arrived at 11 a.m., armed with a blanket and chair.

Even those who came at 3 p.m., like Tara Vella, who is 26-weeks pregnant and brought 17-month-old daughter Madeleine, were still behind several hundred people.

“I figured it would be this busy because it is all over the news and people are panicking probably,” said Vella.

There will be nine vaccination locations across Halton starting Nov. 2, which should ease the wait time, Nosal said.

He added that as early as next week, hospitals and doctor’s offices will also be coming to pick up doses of the vaccine to be administered at those sites. He recommends people phone ahead to see if and when the vaccine will be administered at those sites.

Nosal said he is not concerned about a vaccine shortage, as the Region’s health department has already received two shipments.

“We have 45,000 doses, which will help us start to give the hospitals and physicians what they need, as well as be used at our clinics,” he said. “We have enough to get into the middle of the week quite easily.”

The vaccination clinics come as the second wave of outbreaks has started in the region.

Halton appears to be hit hard right now with the virus, with approximately 60 per cent of schools in the region reporting an student absenteeism rate of two per cent or higher due to flu-like symptoms on Tuesday.

“For the last two weeks, there has been a very significant increase in circulation,” he said.

Nosal said daycares are also being affected, with four to five centres reporting suspected H1N1 cases daily.

The health department is also monitoring the hospitals in the region. There have been no deaths in Halton to date as a result of the H1N1 virus.

“We track and the hospitals track the proportion of their emergency visits that are due to influenza,” he said. “Normally it’s about 10 per cent, but the latest stats show it is up to 40 or more per cent. Some can be seen quickly and don’t need admission. Total hospitalization in Halton (since Sept. 1) is now 15, and the majority are children under the age of 20.”

Some people in line at Wednesday’s clinic had a direct connection to the virus, with sick family members. William Hoch said his son contracted the H1N1 virus last week. Although his son is currently living in Waterloo, where he is attending Wilfrid Laurier University, it was reason enough for Hoch to come get the shot.

“I knew I was going to get the vaccine,” he said. “It’s new and we don’t have the immunity for it yet, so this is a must for me.”

Nosal said he recommends that everyone, especially those in the high-risk categories, get the vaccine.

“If you are in the at-risk groups, for sure you should get it,” he said. “If you are not in the at-risk groups, you should still get it. It will minimize your chances of getting sick.”

The complete list of H1N1 vaccination clinics, with locations, dates and times of operation, can be found online at www.halton.ca or by dialing 311, or calling 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866 or TTY 905-827-9833.