With a surplus of vaccination demands in the West Island area, the local Health and Social Services Centre is opening up a second location for H1N1 flu shots, Spring Garden Elementary in Dollard des Ormeaux, Nov. 11 instead of Nov. 16.
"People want to get the shots, it's great," said HSSC spokesperson Marie-Josée Labrosse.
The change arrives on the heels of the vaccination schedule being moved up by 15 days in the Montreal area, as well as reports of the first location, Allancroft Elementary in Beaconsfield, proving more popular than expected.
In fact, this Monday, West Islanders lining up for their shots there were turned away after 12:30 p.m.
"We had our full day booked," explained Louis-Pascal Cyr, another HSSC spokesperson.
Two Urgence-Santé officers stood outside the school building at about 3 p.m. Monday, when The Chronicle arrived, asking to see peoples' appointment coupons. They were turned away if they turned up without any, but also given a piece of paper with alternate flu vaccination centres in other parts on the island of Montreal.
Still, the measure proved unsatisfactory for some.
"I do not like this," said Roxboro resident Jacqueline Sequeira, moments after trying to get into the school with her son in a baby carriage, her teenage daughter, and her father.
Sequeira said she had not been told at all about a ticket system, which requires people to line up once during the day to get an appointment for later the same day, and then return with the ticket at a given time.
"In the (media) and in the pamphlets, it didn't say that you had to go get the tickets before," Sequiera told The Chronicle.
Meanwhile, Cyr defended the ticket system, adding it was adopted late last week for the West Island area.
"You pick up your coupon, you don't need to wait in advance (afterward)," Cyr said.
According to him, people would be turned away on a busy day regardless of whether or not there was a ticket system in place. This way, he said, people would at least not be waiting for too long a time.
Cyr estimated about 1,000 people per day have been vaccinated since Allancroft opened up last week. "There is a lot of people in the West Island who fall into this category—of young families," he said, in reference to the parents and siblings of children under six months old.
He also added the effect of having moved up some categories of the population to get their vaccinations earlier had an effect as well. "Of course that had an impact," he said.
On the West Island HSSC's website, a notice appearing at the bottom of its front page explains the ticket system. The organization said the notice has been there since Nov.4.
According to one Pointe Claire resident who tried to show up to get his flu shots as early as last Thursday afternoon, the situation seemed to be even worse late last week.
High school teacher Michael Stewart said he and his family got their tickets for a 6:30 p.m. appointment last Thursday but were turned away because officials decided not to validate anymore appointments taken after 5:30 p.m.
"There was about 200 people there," Stewart said when he returned Friday morning as he was told to do. He questioned why Allancroft, in a quiet residential area of Beaconsfield, was chosen as a location.
Monday, line-ups were relatively small at Allancroft, and though her toddler John looked groggy in her arms moments after getting his shot, mother Dimitra Hamilos was happy it was all done. "He's very miserable," she said with a laugh, adding she showed up at 9:45 a.m. to get an appointment for 1:30 p.m. She said she waited about two hours for the whole process.
Adults with chronic illnesses can now start getting their shots along with the groups that already could. Adults and children over 5 years old and in good health, along with the general population, still have to wait until December 7 for inoculation, available at either Allancroft or Spring Garden. This information is subject to change.
Recommended information websites: www.westislandhssc.qc.ca,www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca,
www.h1n1.btvhealth.com
The West Island Health and Social Services Centre recommends those who exhibit H1N1 flu-like symptoms to check in at one of three clinics available to the public for a test, since the Lakeshore General Hospital's emergency room is reserved for severe cases requiring specialized care.
Suspicious symptoms are: a high fever, difficulty breathing, painful breathing, vomiting for over four hours, and, for children, fever among those who are too quiet and active than normal, who refuse to play or are agitated.
Head to one of the following locations:
Brunswick Clinic, at 143, Frontenac Ave., Pointe Claire, open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on weekends, reachable at (514) 426-6677.
Clinique Médistat, 4965, St. Pierre Street, Pierrefonds, open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m on weekends, reachable at (514) 624-4774.
Clinique Statcare, 175, Stillview Avenue, suite 104, Pointe Claire, open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends, reachable at (514) 694-9282.
Use the Quebec government's online self-care guide to determine the severity of your case: http://publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca/acrobat/f/documentation/2009/09-235-11A.pdf
