People here are freaking out! Vaccination clinics have been overwhelmed. In Ontario, the first vaccination clinics opened yesterday. The public health department asked that only people in high risk categories show up for these clinics until Monday when they will open to the general public. However, thousands of people lined up yesterday for vaccinations, regardless of whether they were in one of the high risk groups. People stood in line for hours waiting their turn. No-one was turned away and, as a result, many high-risk people (myself included) are not yet able to get vaccinated.

Today, lines started hours before the clinics opened. But my understanding is that, today, clinics are sending people away if they are not in one of the high-risk categories, or giving them a time slot in which to return.

Many doctors are not administering vaccinations because they don’t want the hassle and are, instead, sending their patients to the clinics that are ill-prepared for the volumes of people showing up. The Public Health Dept. has underestimated the public paranoia.

Outside of the public clinics, those doctors who will administer the vaccination do not yet have the vaccine and are being told that they will receive it on Monday. I spoke with my doctor’s office and they are not confident that will be the case.

People with allergies to eggs, are being told to have the vaccine administered by their allergist. Egg allergies usually include asthma, which would put these people in a high-risk category. But allergists have not yet received the vaccine and don’t know when they will.

This potential pandemic seems to be causing pandemonium.

What’s the H1N1 situation where you are?