City residents will be able to line up again for H1N1 vaccines on Wednesday, announced public health officials early in the week.
Coun. Diane Deans, chairperson of community and protective services, said the city hopes to receive 100,000 more doses of the vaccine this week.
“The City of Ottawa has requested at least 100,000 vaccines doses this week and, after constructive dialogue between the city's medical officer of health Dr. Isra Levy and the province's medical officer of health Dr. Arlene King, we believe this request will be fulfilled,” she said.
Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s medical officer of health, confirmed that delivery of the doses is imminent.
“We have been working closely with the province to identify more supply of the H1N1 vaccine for this week and allow Ottawa Public Health to continue what has been a very successful vaccination program in Ottawa,” said Dr. Levy in a city press release.
The city will also expand its priority vaccination list to include all school-age children and seniors over 65 who have chronic health problems.
Previously, priority was given only to health-care workers, pregnant women, children under six years old and people under 65 years old with chronic health conditions such as asthma.
“When the province gives us the mandate to vaccinate the general population, we encourage everyone who wants it to get the best defence against the H1N1 flu virus," Coun. Deans said in the press release.
The closest permanent vaccination clinic for Centretown residents is Tom Brown Arena on Bayview Road, which will be open from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. as of Wednesday. The city also plans to open a Wednesday only vaccination clinic at Ottawa City Hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Somerset West Community Health Centre is open as a flu assessment centre. But Centretown Community Health Centre closed its flu assessment centre on Monday due to a drop in the number of patients. The Centretown site has resumed regular activities.
Vaccination clinics have been closed since Thursday, Nov. 12, after city supplies of the vaccine ran out. Flu assessment centres remained open during this time.
Nearly 200,000 people have been vaccinated in Ottawa so far, representing more than 20 per cent of the city’s population.
Five flu-related Ottawa area deaths have been reported since the outbreak began in the spring.