Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton’s Medical Officer of Health, reported early yesterday afternoon that the woman was the first Halton resident to die from the pandemic H1N1 flu virus.

The woman is among 30 in Ontario — 101 across Canada, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada — to succumb to the pandemic virus since it first made its appearance last spring.

Halton Region’s heath department still has vaccine, however, its H1N1 vaccination clinics continue to immunize only high-risk individuals this week.

Clinics for the general public have been cancelled until further notice from the Province of Ontario as there continues to be speculation as to whether Canada does or does not have sufficient vaccine.

Nosal said earlier this week that he believes the amount of vaccine currently on hand here will last until the end of this week.

Since vaccinations clinics opened to high-rish individuals — those with underlying health issues that put them at greater risk of contracting and developing complications from the pandemic — vaccines have been given to approximatley 17,000 Halton residents.

Wait times have become considerably less this week than last when wait times were hours long and are being updated hourly online at www.halton.ca.

The four H1N1 vaccination clinics operating in Halton for high-risk people are:

• Burlington: Gary Allan High School - gymnasium, 3250 New St., Wednesday to Friday: noon-8 p.m.

• Georgetown: Gellert Community Centre - Kinsmen Hall, 10241 Eighth Line, Halton Hills, Wednesday to Friday: noon-8 p.m.

• Milton: New Life Church - CYC Black Box Theatre, 824 Thompson Rd. S., Wednesday to Friday: noon-8 p.m.

• Oakville: Halton Regional Centre – auditorium, 1151 Bronte Road, Wednesday to Friday: noon -8 p.m., Saturday to Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Many local doctors have also picked up doses of the vaccine to be administered to those at high-risk at their offices. Nosal recommends people phone their family doctor to see if they are offering the vaccine.

High-risk individuals currently include:

• People with chronic medical conditions under age 65

• Pregnant women in their second half of pregnancy

• Healthy children from six months to five years of age

• Health care workers involved in pandemic response or the delivery of essential health care services

• Household contacts and care providers of people in a high priority group who cannot be immunized, such as for infants under six months of age or those who may not respond to vaccines

Nosal said health staff is turning away those who are not in high-risk groups though the medical officer of health has also indicated empathy for parents of younger children as he said it is younger school children who should next be a priority in getting a vaccine.

Absentee rates at local schools continue to climb, but school closures are still not warranted at this time, according to Nosal.

The health department is also monitoring Halton’s hospitals where there have been at least 22 hospitalizations since Sept. 1, with approximately half of them confirmed to have H1N1, and the other half suspected to have it, Nosal said. Most of the cases are at the Oakville and Burlington hospitals.

The senior woman is the first death in Halton as a result of  the H1N1 virus.

No date has been set for when the vaccination clinics will open to all members of the public, Nosal said.

He encourages people who do not yet qualify to get the vaccine to continue to practice the key prevention techniques, such as frequent handwashing, coughing into upper sleeves or a tissue, staying home if there are flu-like symptoms and keeping commonly-touched surfaces clean and disinfected.

Information about H1N1 vaccination clinics 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.