Several Ontario Clinics Report No Wait Lines For H1N1 Vaccine

November 24, 2009 8:55 p.m. EST

Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - From up to six hours of queuing which had led to stories of favoritism in getting the Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine, wait times have been drastically reduced for the swine flu inoculation following the delivery of more doses of the adjuvanted vaccine and opening the door of vaccine clinics in Ontario to anyone who wants the shot.

According to Toronto Public Health Unit Communications Manager Mary Margaret Crapper, in four clinics there are no lines, while in some the wait times has been drastically reduced to just two hours. Areas with no lineups were reported by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

In London, 6,800 residents got inoculated in five hours. Among those who got vaccinated there was Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews.

In some clinics, the lack of lines was the result of tapping modern technology. Residents are given wristbands with a number and a predetermined time holders should return to the clinic for their shots. The clinics use Twitters to update people on the queue or lack of lines in their areas.

Ontario was the first province to open the H1N1 shots to all residents. Soon other Canadian provinces like British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba followed suit.