As health authorities ponder the next step in the battle against H1N1, turnout at Wednesday’s flu-shot clinics for the homeless got a mixed response from the targeted group, says the executive director of the AIDS Society of Kamloops.

“It wasn’t lined up, but it was about what was expected,” Bob Hughes said Wednesday.

Some people were reluctant or unwilling to get the vaccination for a range of reasons, while others needed transportation that was provided by ASK outreach workers, he said.

The fact that there weren’t long line-ups was actually a good thing in a way, Hughes said.

“That would have been trying on their patience.”

He is now asking Interior Health to provide vaccinations for people who aren’t homeless but who are still at risk and are shut in, such as those living in rooming houses.

So far, Interior Health has only posted four clinics for next week, in Lillooet, Nakusp, Princeton and Sparwood, due to a temporary shortage of the vaccine. Those communities were chosen based on their distance from large clinics and because their communities have not yet had a clinic.

Still, shots will only go to people in high-risk groups in those communities. Details and times are available on Interior Health’s web site.

People in other centres who are in high-risk groups and haven’t received the vaccine should check with their family doctor or walk-in clinics to see if they have vaccine available.

Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall said next week’s flu clinics will aim at inoculating people in high-risk groups who still haven’t received the shot.

On Tuesday, about 3,000 H1N1and seasonal flu vaccinations went into the arms of Kamloops residents who lined up at the flu clinic. The next Kamloops clinic is set for Friday at the Kamloops Alliance Church, 233 Fortune Dr., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anne Clarotto, director of prevention services for public health, said several factors were considered in choosing the clinic site, including accessibility and central location.

Parking was a problem on Tuesday, along with hundreds of people waiting outside for hours.

“The reality, however, is our choices are limited and when we consider what would be appropriate, all venues have their own limitations. Not all locations have ample parking, or free parking for that matter, or are wheelchair accessible, or have the indoor space to hold a mass clinic.”

Kendall said it’s hoped the vaccine manufacturer will get up to full production soon. Discussions are ongoing about the next groups to be vaccinated. He said it will likely be for children and emergency first responders, but it depends how much vaccine becomes available.

The province bought one million courses of Tamiflu, an antiviral used to treat H1N1, and so far 15 per cent of the supply has been accessed, Kendall said.

“I think that’s kept the number of people on ventilators below what was projected,” he said.

As of Tuesday night, 46 people with confirmed or suspected cases of H1N1 were on ventilators in B.C. The province has almost 1,000 ventilators and has ordered 25 more.

Royal Inland Hospital has not had to cancel surgeries or other procedures, but it is seeing long waits in the emergency department and there have been staff off sick, said director Marg Brown.

About 750 staff and doctors at the hospital have received the H1N1 shot.

The hospital is reviewing its staffing levels daily.

“We’ve brought people in on overtime. But you do what you have to do to be safe,” she said.

“Everybody’s managing the challenge. Each day we look at it, formulate a plan. But it’s a moving target.”

And there have been patients admitted with H1N1. They are kept isolated in private or semi-private wards.

Patients with flu-like symptoms arriving at the ER are asked to put on masks. They were available from a box in the entrance, but so many were getting stolen that they are now being issued by the triage nurses, she said.

myoung@kamloopsnews.ca