Because of a slowdown in supply, next week's swine flu vaccination clinics will be restricted to people in priority groups, says Ontario's chief medical officer of health.

"If you are not in a priority group, please be patient and await the sequencing," Dr. Arlene King told a Toronto news conference on Friday.

She said for the time being, they will not be immunizing people who are not in the priority groups. Swine flu vaccination for the general public in Toronto had originally been moved up to start on Monday.

Those priority group of who are eligible to receive vaccines at this point includes:

  • people with chronic medical conditions (eg., asthma, diabetes) under the age of 65
  • healthy children from six months to five years old
  • care providers and household contacts of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines
  • health care workers
  • people living in remote areas
  • pregnant women

Clinics will be asking people if they fall into those groups, King said. Those who show up and are in good health will be turned away.

"In a few weeks, we will have enough vaccine to immunize everyone who needs and wants it," she said.

The restrictions are to protect those who are at most at risk from the virus, King said.

"I appreciate that people are losing patience at long lines, and I completely understand why people might be anxious," she said. "The news that two children recently died in Ontario was very sad and frightening too."

Immunization is the best way to protect individuals, families and communities, she said.

But seniors and healthy adults who don't work in health care are being asked to wait until the priority groups are immunized, King said.

The shortage

Health Minister Deb Matthew said in Windsor that Ontario had expected about one million doses of the adjuvanted vaccine from the federal government next week. Instead, the province will receive about 170,000 doses. She's calling this an urgent matter.

Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief medical officer of health, said Friday that delivery of the vaccine has slowed because the manufacturer was asked to make special batches for pregnant women.

Women who are more than 20 weeks pregnant can use the regular adjuvanted vaccine, which combines the active ingredient with an organic booster.

King said by the end of next week, the province will have a supply of 86,800 doses unadjuvanted vaccine for women who are fewer than 20 weeks pregnant by the end of next week.

"We are getting more resources and opening more clinics," she said.

Until people get their shot, they should practice good hygiene, including:

  • frequent and thorough hand-washing
  • coughing or sneezing into a tissue or sleeve
  • cleaning common surfaces
  • staying home if ill

She promoted the ministry's self-assessment tool for concerned individuals instead of calling the swamped Telehealth Ontario line or going to a hospital emergency room.