More than half of Yukoners have received vaccine

More than half of the territory’s population, 17,100 people, have been vaccinated against the H1N1 flu strain.

More than half of the territory’s population, 17,100 people, have been vaccinated against the H1N1 flu strain.

However, Dr. Brendan Hanley, the territory’s medical officer of health,  is continuing to encourage anyone who hasn’t received the vaccination to get it.

“We are still seeing more influenza than we should,” he told reporters at a news conference this morning.

The death of a middle-aged Whitehorse woman under 50 last week due to complications from H1N1 was the second in the territory this season. It serves as a reminder to those who haven’t got it yet to do so, he said.

The woman had not received the vaccine.

“Our hearts go out to the family,” Hanley said.

Officials are providing few details on the death out of respect for the woman’s family, but it has been noted she had no underlying health issues.

“She considered herself in very good health,” he said.

The woman was among 14 people in the territory who have been hospitalized with H1N1 over the course of the season. Hanley said there are currently about two in hospital with the flu, though they are not in intensive care.

Both emergency room and flu assessment clinic visits have come down considerably, he said. At its peak, there were around 100 people coming into emergency per day, the vast majority with flu-like symptoms. Now that is down to just a handful a day, he said.

Given the lower numbers of people coming in, Hanley said, the hours for the flu assessment clinic will be cut to about four on Thursday. If the numbers continue to fall, it will likely be closed.

Meanwhile, vaccination clinics have also been reduced.

The Whitehorse Health Centre is offering drop-in hours to get the vaccine from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. until Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday.

On Saturday and on Dec. 5, a clinic will be held at the centre from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

There will also be clinics from 4:30 p.m.to 7 p.m. at Porter Creek Secondary School tonight, F.H. Collins Secondary School tomorrow and Elijah Smith Elementary School on Thursday.

In Watson Lake, clinics are set to continue from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. today and next Monday, above the post office, and on Saturday inside the Rec Plex lobby.

Those living in other communities are advised to contact their local health centres for drop-in times.

“It is changing, literally, week-to-week,” Hanley said of the clinics, noting information continues to be updated on the government’s website.

Hanley was also quick to point out that while there has been one lot of the vaccine recalled due to suspected allergic reactions, the recall is more of a precautionary measure and none of that lot ever reached the Yukon.

“We’re proceeding as normal,” he said.

With more than half the territory vaccinated, Hanley said the Yukon is comparing well to the provinces, where most have between 18 and 20 per cent of their population vaccinated.

“I think Yukoners have responded amazingly well,” he said.

The provinces, though, are quickly catching up, he said.

The other two territories are also seeing a high vaccination rate with 60 per cent of Nunavut residents and 56 per cent of Northwest Territories residents vaccinated.

With the vaccine taking a few days to have any effect, he noted, it is possible for someone to get the flu after getting the vaccine and still be sick.

Over the course of the flu season, Hanley noted the majority of H1N1 hospitalizations have been for first nation cases.

That could be for any number of reasons, he suggested. It could just be coincidence, an issue with more underlying health conditions affecting first nations or a different pattern of seeking care.

Those living in the communities with a higher first nation population, for example, may be sent into Whitehorse as a precautionary measure; whereas someone in Whitehorse may simply stay home.