The H1N1 immunization team came to town this weekend, for a mass immunization that is running for two days (yesterday and today). We were scheduled for our shots last night at 8:15pm.
I have to say that the procedure they had in place was a model of efficiency and kudos should be going out to Health and Social Services and the local Health Care team for doing such a great job. Now there were not that many people there when we showed up but it was apparently a lot busier earlier in the day. Well over 400 people had been immunized by the time we showed up (someone mentioned 125/day for one of these clinics is what is expected), more than half of Arctic Bay's population. There was still a couple of hours left for the thing to be operating, and one more day to finish the job. That seems pretty efficient to me.
The gym was set up on a flow through system, enter at one end, exit at the other. We were greeted, given the information on the innoculations (for both H1N1 and Seasonal Flu) and the consent forms at a station that could handle four people/families at a time. From there we went to a waiting area to fill out the forms, while the kids were given crayons to colour with. We were called for the shots almost immediately after we'd completed the forms.
Again there were at least four stations set up to stick people, each manned by a nurse and someone to help with any interpreting needed. The kids were first up and while Hilary was tearful, Travis took both shots stoically without even a flinch. Leah couldn't get the shot because of fish allergies of all things (apparently there is shark oil in the H1N1 vaccine, which explains my only side effect - a strong desire to take a bite out of a surf board).
I took a little heat from the nurse (and as an aside I love how she assumed I was a teacher) over not getting the Seasonal Flu shot, but I expect that. And listen, its not that I think there is something evil or sinister in immunizations, I just don't believe that they are efficacious (the Seasonal Flu shots) and I also don't believe in taking medicines/drugs/immunizations for no good reason. Seasonal Flu vaccine components are decided on months in advance based on a committee's idea on what 3 or 4 flu strains out of the hundreds out there will be most prevalent the coming season - No thanks. The H1N1 vaccine, on the other hand, targets a specific flu strain, poised to cause major problems. It has been shown to be efficacious against the strain.
After the shots we were on to the next station, greeted by a nurse with more information on the after effects and how to treat any symptoms. There was balloons for the kids and juice available as we waited the obligatory fifteen minutes to make sure no one would experience an allergic reaction. Through out the whole process there were Rangers and other volunteers to help make everything go smoothly.
I didn't check on how long the entire process took, but I'd venture to say it was less than a half hour from the time we walked in the door, and half of that was taken up in a mandatory observation period.
So, again, well done everyone involved.
There's been no after effects, my arm is a little sore but really I wake up in more pain from my other arm just from old injuries and old age. The family didn't escape without problems though, a sister-in-law seems to have had a bad reaction and ended up at the nursing station for a couple of hours. She seems to be fine now, and was scheduled for another check up this morning.
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