Almost 14,000 Yukoners have been vaccinated

Close to two weeks after the territorial government started doling out the H1N1 shot, 13,851 Yukoners have been vaccinated.

Close to two weeks after the territorial government started doling out the H1N1 shot, 13,851 Yukoners have been vaccinated.

Health officials are pleased with the numbers, which mean that just over 40 per cent of the population has been vaccinated as of last night. However, officials are also encouraging those who haven’t got the shot to make their way to a clinic, spokeswoman Michelle Boleen said this morning.

This may be the time to get the vaccine for those who want it, but were avoiding the lengthy lineups last week when it was first released.

“The numbers are fairly steady, but the lines aren’t as long,” Boleen said.

At the Canada Games Centre – the main clinic site in Whitehorse – wait times are down to about a half-hour in some cases.

That compares to 1 1/2 to two hours residents were waiting there last week to get the shot.

To help residents deal with the long waits, the Games Centre has been handing out free passes for those coming to the clinics so they can use the centre while they wait for their number to be called.

In total, the Yukon has seen eight people who have had H1N1 admitted to hospital.

Of those, three were sent to Vancouver, with one child dying from pneumonia linked to H1N1. The other two were sent Outside for other reasons before the lab results came back showing they also had H1N1.

All other patients with confirmed cases have since been released from hospital.

Vaccination clinics are continuing in Whitehorse today at the Canada Games Centre until 7 p.m. and the Elijah Smith Building until 5 p.m. Vaccinations were also available this morning at the Kwanlin Dun Health Centre.

The vaccine will continue to be available at the Canada Games Centre tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and next week from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. weekdays except Wednesday.

Many of the clinics in the communities are wrapping up today, though some will continue through next week, including:

• in Beaver Creek at the post office on Monday and the White River First Nation on Tuesday, both from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.;

• in Ross River at the health centre on Nov.18 and 25 as well into next month on Dec. 2, 9 and 16; and

• in Watson Lake at the hospital from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. through the week, above the post office on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. until Nov. 30, in the rec plex on Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and again on Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., at the health centre on Nov. 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., and at Watson Lake Signpost Seniors facility from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Clinics continuing in communities later this afternoon include:

• at health centres in Beaver Creek, Haines Junction and Faro until 4 p.m.;

• in Dawson City at the Downtown Hotel until 5 p.m.;

• in Mayo at the health centre until 3 p.m.; and

• in Old Crow at the health centre until 4:30 p.m.