A shortage of H1N1 flu vaccine prompted health officials to shutdown three clinics early on Thursday and health officials are warning the stockpile of vaccine on the Island is running dangerously low.
This comes as H1N1 continues to spread across Prince Edward Island.
Dozens of people swamped a flu assessment centre in Charlottetown on Thursday. Health officials will open three additional clinics across the province today in O'Leary, Summerside and Souris.
Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says the province is receiving troubling information that the amount of vaccine destined for P.E.I. next week may be less than first anticipated.
That, she added, may cause further delays in getting Islanders vaccinated.
Morrison said there will be enough vaccine for all Islanders, but how much the Province receives every week is determined by the Public Health Agency in Ottawa.
"We can only give out the amount of vaccine that we have," Morrison said during a briefing on Thursday.
"Although we have a plan in place of what we want to do for the vaccine roll out, if we do not get the vaccine that we would like we will have to adjust our clinic schedules."
Vaccination clinics in Bloomfield, Summerside and Souris were forced to close early on Thursday because they ran out of vaccine.
Those clinics will not reopen until next week.
But the vaccine shortage will not affect H1N1 flu vaccination programs for pregnant women, which get underway today at the Polyclinic in Charlottetown and the Summerside Medical Centre in Summerside.
The province received 18,000 doses of the vaccine this week.
By midday on Thursday, more than 15,000 doses had been administered. The Province continues to focus on those at most risk of complications, including children.
Kelly Dawn Perry of Middleton is fearful for her children's health. She's tried to get her children, aged five, four and three, vaccinated at three separate vaccination clinics but wasn't able to get the shots.
Perry went to Summerside on Wednesday but was told they were not taking any more patients. She went to Lennox Island on Thursday but was told that clinic was for aboriginals only so she tried Bloomfield only to be told there were 500 people in line in front of her.
"I'm really mad," she said. "I have a relative who has the swine flu. If we don't get this needle our whole family is going to get this."
In an attempt to reduce long waits and anxiety at the Charlottetown vaccine clinic, the province limited vaccinations to children only on Thursday. That cut wait times from three hours or more to a matter of minutes but frustrated many who were turned away.
At one point the Charlottetown police department had to be called to keep order at the capital city clinic.
"We did not anticipate that as many people would be showing up for the vaccine in these first few days," added Morrison.
City clinic brought to a halt
SUMMERSIDE - The mayhem surrounding H1N1 vaccination clinics doesn't seem to be letting up.
Yesterday, area residents hoping to get their shot were turned away from Credit Union Place at 2:30 p.m., due to a shortage of the vaccine.
The H1N1 influenza clinic was originally scheduled to remain open until 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Aletha Pickering, a nurse at the clinic, said the Credit Union Place site is low on vaccine.
"We have enough vaccine for every Islander, but we have run out for this week," she said. "There will be more mass clinics for the general public in three weeks so we're asking everyone to be patient."
Totals for the number of people vaccinated Thursday at Credit Union Place weren't available.
Next week the vaccine will be administered in Island elementary schools and the following week, in junior high and high schools, before public clinics will be held again.
