Staff reporter
Despite months of planning, a crowd estimated to be more than 1,000 overwhelmed staff and volunteers at the first major flu clinic of the season on Oct. 27 at the Community Centre giving a clear indication that the public is very concerned with the prospects of catching the flu or even worse, H1N1.
“We’re very busy and this is more than we expected and that’s probably due to the H1N1,” said public health nurse Patricia Kriz, who believed most people were seeking both a seasonal influenza and H1N1 vaccinations.
A substantial number of people who were forced to endure windy and chilly conditions for hours while waiting in line, were told to go home as the clinic was closing at 4 p.m. but it had nothing to do with the vaccine itself.
“We do have an adequate vaccine supply, however today we may need to close the doors early just because of the time factor and when the clinic is over,” Kriz said. “There’s a certain capacity we have, but there are other clinics in the region that the public can refer to on the Alberta Health Services website.”
One of those who managed to make it through the doors was Jodi Bramfield, principal of the Rimbey Elementary School, who, along with her husband Bill and son Rhett, said her family’s decision to get immunized was not an easy one to make.
“To be honest, I did waiver back and forth between whether to get the shot or not just because of the additives and preservative in it made me nervous, but I think that the risk of not taking it isn’t worth it,” said Bramfield, who also discussed the situation at her school. “We do have some kids who are away ill and we’ve also asked kids to stay home who are showing signs of the flu so I think parents are being a bit more pro-active so perhaps more kids are gone who normally wouldn’t have been. It’s probably comparable to the high season when the flu is going through. It’s nothing above average, especially during flu season. It just hit a little early.”
As for specific reasons for receiving the vaccine, Bramfield said the positions held by her and husband, who happens to be the vice-principal of the Rimbey Jr./Sr. High School, played a role in her choice, however the family is planning a sunny holiday as well.
“We’re getting it because we’re in the schools – both my husband and myself teach so we’re in the schools, and we’re going to Mexico in November so those were the reasons why we decided to get them,” she said.
In the case of the multitude of people who did not receive the vaccination however, many questions were raised and contemplated while waiting outdoors.
“This is a disease of pandemic proportions and to not have another clinic scheduled for three weeks is absolutely scary when the government has been saying to get this shot as soon as you can,” said Wendy Paris of Rimbey. “At the Eckville clinic held yesterday, we heard that they were supposed to operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but they did not close until 10 p.m. just because they wanted to get everyone through. I don’t want to fault anyone, but this should have been planned for. They should be having a clinic tomorrow, and the next day and the next until everybody has had their shots.”
While Paris heard from friends and family members how overwhelmed the staff and volunteers, including those from the Hospital Auxiliary and Family and Community Support Services, inside the clinic were and acknowledged their efforts, she quickly added that the provincial government should’ve known the long waits were likely to occur.
“They should’ve known that there would be massive numbers here today, especially after the news of eight-hour waits in Calgary and four-hour waits in Red Deer and I was told by the doctor’s office that there were people actually going to Eckville from Red Deer because the wait was so long, but the waiting time in Eckville ended up being three hours, so it’s a bad situation,” Paris said. “They do need to do a little more planning. They’ve done wonderfully in getting the vaccine out, but they need to do some instant planning, and not go back to the drawing board for a few weeks.”
For those who missed out the first time, the next flu clinic in Rimbey is scheduled for Nov. 10 followed by another on Nov. 26, with another to be held on December 8.