Chemguy hasn't recieved his yet.  He kept saying he would, but things would come up like long hours being out of town and not wanting a sore arm when working the hours which I get.  He would often just forget on his way home, and it would be 'tomorrow I will'.

Even if he's able to get it, what about others who want it?  The province isn't doing enough to get levels up for decent herd immunity.

I am very glad that I got mine at the end of November and encouraged my guy to do the same.  He had never had the flu shot before.  I can't imagine them running out.  Is it really because so many more people are getting shot?  Or have they ordered less based on the number of people who have received it in years past?

I'd better read an actual article...

Hilary, I know in the fall they were saying that the numbers were the highest seen for people getting vaccinated (excluding 2009 as that wasn't the typical seasonal one).  People are fearing H1N1 again because of the numbers severely ill/in the hospital and they opened up clinics over Christmas specifically because they wanted to encourage more to get immunized.

I don't know if they amount ordered is the same as other years.  They did get a batch that was intended for Italy I think was the correct country,

http://globalnews.ca/news/1065438/calgarians-unable-to-get-flu-shot-desp...

According to the below they ordered 1.1 million doses, not sure about previous years:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/Premier+says+reason+panic+over...

We've had shortages here (the previous H1N1 outbreak was one) but recently the problem has been the opposite. Turnout has been below expectations. One thing that has apparently boosted numbers in Ontario this year is letting pharmacists do the shots in their consulting rooms. Makes it more convenient because you're not stuck with the local health unit's schedules. Not sure if that has had an impact on supply or not. I got mine early in the game (first health unit clinic back in late October) so haven't really done more than read about the scale of the return of H1N1.

Mendalla

The fall was really good.  They were available everywhere.  Usually it's just the flu clinics in malls to start with (which I personally think is a great place to catch whatever is going around).  This year most pharmacies and doctors offices had them right at the beginning.  They are all running out though, and the province has put out the call to those that still have them so that they can be diverted to the clinics only.

London Drugs bought there own supply from a manufacturer to offer it to those who didn't want to wait for the public supply for $20.  They are now being investigated and the province is also asking for their supply.  From what I've heard LD hasn't heard about an offer for the province to actually buy it from them.

Other that offering the shots at a variety of locations the health care system's hands are tied.  If people don't bother to and get one when they are available in the fall they can hardly blame someone else.

I got mine on the first day they were available around here.  It took about 30 minutes including registering, getting it and sitting visiting over juice and cookies afterwards.  This is a small community and the shots were given in a community hall.  Staff were staggered so there was always a couple of qualified people there from early morning till evening.  Those who qualified for pneumonia shots could get them at the same time.

ps  - Cough, cough, sneeze, blow and blow and cough some more - sure would be nice of there was a vaccine for the common cold!   At least I can't spread my germs via WC conversation

Kay, I agree with you to an extent, but the health minister was encouraging people to get it done this winter.

Even if people did it in the fall, there still wasn't enough.  There are also times when people are told not to get it, and they are capable of getting it at a later date.

Vaccines aren't just for the individual.  I rely on others.  I have some control over Chemguy, I guess I should have just made an appointment (he doesn't want it from a pharmacist) and driven him to it when I knew he would be free.  Beyond that, what should I have done?  The rate amoung nurses in the hospitals was under 50% before there were outbreaks in the hospitals this winter.

Anyone who wanted the shot seems to have had plenty of time to do that, I think.  We each bear responsibility for ourselves in this, as in other health issues.  If my partner didn't bother to get one and then got sick there wouldn't be much sympathy coming from me - basic care and feeding maybe, but not sympathy.  It is a different ball game when people can't take the shot because of medical reasons.  Had everyone arranged to get shots early in this process the health officials wouldn't be frantically trying to meet their desires now.  More supplies would have been ordered in plenty of time to protect the slowpokes.     

I heard that some places require health care staff to have had the shot or wear a mask at work.  Sounds fair to me.  

Most did, but not all.  Some people travel and didn't have the option while not here.  Some people are ill, and can't until they are over the illness.  Some might have been too young, some on medication, etc.  I think for young children it isn't just one shot and people do get busy.  There are also issues of working around other immunizations, as some doctors recommend that different ones aren't given all at once.  Some people are recommended to see an allergist first; I can tell you from first hand experience that takes months.

Immunization isn't just a responsibility to ourselves, it works best when we can reach herd immunity.

Maybe.  This year was a record high, and they know that people still get them after January.  The Health Minister came out and told people in January to get vaccinated if they hadn't been; it wasn't just high risk.  When that's the message the resources to follow through should be there.

Some places, and from what I have come across it only occurred at the hospitals with the outbreaks once the outbreaks had occurred.  The might be incentive for those who didn't have it before to get it now.  Wearing a mask at work doesn't mean that if they are carrying the virus it won't be spread to someone.

Vaccines aren't 100% effective either, those who are vaccinated might not be protected so it isn't of just oh, well you had your chance so you could be protected.  Even those who were responsible and got it ASAP would still be better off if more people were vaccinated.

It is my understanding that the process of creating the vaccines requires a certain amount of time and that they have a relatively , for meds, a short shelf life. They make what they anticipate using. Most likely based on years of data.

Then when a bad flu hits, as it is this year but oddly only in Alberta, there is a rush panic. The virus is incubated in eggs. It isn't artificially constructed like say Advil. So it depends on time.

Certain populations always get it. Elderly, those with chronic diseases, those who work with children, teacher..... People who work ion large crowds or ride transit.

Others , like myself, at this time don't have that many interactions with others so have minimal risk of contracting flu. I have only occasionally gotten a shot since I quit work. Unless there is an outbreak where I live.

Herd immunity is valuable but it seems like this H1N1 requires more. I think they have been surprised by the ill people as the expectation was that many would have immunity from the last shots a few years ago and the number of people who had it then

Lastpointe, I'm pretty sure manufacturers decide on how much to make based on the orders they have.  They want to make a profit, which is reasonable.

The flu isn't just in Alberta.  It's been in BC and I believe Quebec as well.  I don't know if we were close to herd immunity in 2009 for H1N1.  This year we aren't anywhere near it.  From things I've come across, immunity from flu vaccinations isn't long lasting.  For some, if they get the vaccine in October, the effectiveness starts to wear off before the flu season is even over.  It's different depending on the person though.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/h1n1-makes-up-more-than-90-of-flu...

http://globalnews.ca/news/1073527/three-suspected-h1n1-deaths-in-b-c-one...

I think the factthatwehadH1N1 is part of the issue. The health officials believed a greater number of people would have antibodies than perhaps they have in reality.

Flu vaccines are always iffy. The amount demanded varies but I expect that when they determined this virus would be the dominant one that they under ordered.

Or perhaps this particular H1N1 has very slightly mutated to be more dangerous for the twenty something's who seem to be getting it in high numbers.

Medicine is not an exact science that is for sure and we all react so differently to things.

I hope you remain healthy yourself.

Wash your hands with soap and water every chance you get.

And I try to train myself not to touch my face, which is harder that it sounds

The vaccine is gone here, with the exception of some for kids who need a second dose and they already recieved the first.

Thanks Lastpointe, I do what I can.  I carry hand sanitizer with me and use it when out and wash my hands when I get home.  When out, I'm actually reasonably good about not touching my face and hopefully at home there's no flu virus around!

I had the H1N1 shot the first time around and have had at least one regular flu shot (I can't remember if one or two or if the H1N1 shot was one of them), and last year no shot but did get the flu- the worst in a long time! I just got busy this year and didn't get one this year. Had a bad cold in Oct but I don't think it was flu- not feverish just sniffles, fatigue and an annoying cough that dragged on and on. Was so glad to be rid of that I actually forgot about the flu shot. Was just focused on getting back to work and making up lost time. Sounds crazy, but I did forget. I guess I subconsciously figured I was done with being sick for another year, or something. So, wondering if I need H1N1 again because I had the first shot (the one developed because of the first 'epidemic') and because the subsequent flu shot contained H1N1 vaccine as part of the mix, and I had a flu last year- not sure how similar that virus I had was to the 'regular' garden variety (non-H1N1) flu going around in BC this year, in addition to H1N1 going around. So far, this Christmas was around a few people in the later stages of the flu of some unknown type, in close quarters, and didn't catch it. Plus traveling jam packed with coughing sniffling people getting to and from their holidays. And I ride the bus frequently.

Not sure if it's too late to bother getting another shot. One woman from work is off, very sick suddenly, and it could be H1N1. The rest of us are speculating that that might be the flu she has. We hope not. She's 30. I work in an air conditioned office and bugs tend to spread fast. I have another under 30 coworker- if that's the highest risk group. But other than the cold in Oct, I have been okay. So far. I'm well over 30, and have had at least 2 shots that contained H1N1 vaccine and at least one that had regular flu vaccine of unknown type in the last few years. What do you think? Too late to get a shot this year? Should I bother? I have friends who rant and rave at me for getting it. BC is weird that way. Some people are so against it here. Which would be a challenge in getting the population to reach herd immunity.

This time of year I'm just as afraid of catching something else nasty while I'm in an air conditioned waiting room surrounded by sick people! Maybe even more so, than getting the flu. Seriously. The odds are higher. Another horrible cold, strep, pneumonia, norovirus (had that- never again, I hope! The most sick I have ever felt! It was brief but I thought I was a gonner!)

With regards to "Herd Immunity" here's some interesting information. The phrase "herd immunity was coined back in the early 1900's....long before vaccinations were used. It was a way to describe a NATURALLY acquired immunity and why it's necessary.

http://vran.org/about-vaccines/general-issues/herd-immunity/herd-immunit...

http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2012/02/18/the-deadly-impossibility-of...

http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2012/07/05/herd-immunity-the-flawed-sc...

We should be asking more questions!

Kimmio, it's probably worth it to get it.  The 'young' people who are being hit hard are something like 18-65 it's not just 20-somethings.  There are also the other flu strains, although H1N1 is something like 90% of the cases right now.  You might not get the flu even without getting the shot though - I hope that's the case for Chemguy and me!

Yes Waterfall, herd immunity still includes people who develop immunity by contracting the disease.  In many cases, it's probably more effective if someone actually contracts the disease, as the greater the immune response, the more symptoms someone tends to have and vaccines are generally developed so that most people don't get dangerously high fevers.  It's nice if the risk of complications or death can be avoided though.