Thousands Receive H1N1 Vaccinations in London, Ont. Special

The inoculation of people in six high risk groups started today, Tuesday, in London, Ontario. In a massive show of support for the H1N1 vaccine, thousands lined-up for vaccinations at the clinics being run by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

The fight to limit the spread of H1N1 has moved into high gear in London, Ontario, and region as the Middlesex-London Health Unit receives an additional 24,000 doses of vaccine today to control the spread of the pandemic influenza virus. The quick vaccination of high risk individuals has taken on an added urgency with the death Monday of Toronto-area teen Evan Frustaglio from the H1N1 virus. This was confirmed Tuesday morning by Toronto Public Health officials. The 13-year-old played in a hockey tournament at the Western Fair Sports Centre in London this past weekend. 10 additional vaccination clinics have been scheduled to run this week and into next week. “With the imminent delivery of more vaccine, we are able to offer it to a greater number of people who are at a higher risk of contracting the disease,” said Dr. Graham Pollett, Medical Officer of Health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. These initial London and area vaccination clinics will be open only to high-risk groups, such as the following: * Anyone under the age of 65 who has an underlying medical condition (these may include diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and/or lung, heart or blood problems etc.);

* Children between six (6) months and less than five (5) years of age;

* Household members of children under the age of six (6) months;

* Household members of individuals with compromised immune systems;

* Pregnant women with an underlying medical condition and healthy pregnant women over 20 weeks of pregnancy;

* Health care worker. Prior to being vaccinated, people will be asked to sign an eligibility form. Bryna Warshawsky, associate medical officer of health, said it is basically an honour system. If a healthy individual lies, there is little officials at the clinics can do. Despite the numbers-limiting regulations, thousands turned out to receive an inoculation for the H1N1 virus. Alex Middel, of London, brought her son Fynn, 2, to the clinic after learning that "they only give young ones half a dose" of the vaccine. This was confirmed by Dr. Pollett. Others in the long line were also very positive about coming to the clinic. Pollett met with the media at the South London Community Centre clinic where it was expected 500 vaccinations an hour would be administered, or 2500 over the course of the afternoon and evening. Another clinic was operating out of St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in the northeast of the city. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the clinics will be held in different locations. Reports of both pandemic H1N1 and influenza A continue to increase in Middlesex-London. Between October 19 and 23, the health unit received reports of 9 confirmed cases H1N1 and 33 of influenza A, which are likely to be the H1N1 strain. With a total of 78 confirmed influenza cases, flu virus activity is considered now high and widespread. The actual number of cases may be far higher as most people with flu symptoms do not see a doctor. Dr. Pollett says, “The H1N1 virus is now spreading widely in our community. We’re asking the community to please be patient as we initially get the vaccine to those who need it the soonest.”