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More vaccine is on the way

Northern Health is arranging to send more swine flu vaccine to Haida Gwaii, and there could be more vaccination clinics held before the end of this week.Communications officer Eryn Collins says islanders who haven't yet been vaccinated should check Northern Health's web page, where all the latest information about scheduled clinics will be posted as soon as it's available. (northernhealth.ca).Ms Collins also said she's not surprised by rumours that there's a confirmed case of swine flu on the islands. Northern Health doesn't have specific information about the number and location of lab-confirmed cases, she said. Additionally, lab-confirmed cases are only the tip of the iceberg. Many people have the swine flu and don't seek medical attention, she said. And doctors don't test everyone who reports flu-like symptoms, she said."If there is a lab-confirmed case on Haida Gwaii, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the first," Ms Collins said. "There will be more cases and there will be more severe cases."Since the global swine flu outbreak began in April, 14 people have been hospitalized in northern BC with severe cases of swine flu. There have been no deaths due to the virus in the Northern Health area, Ms Collins said."We have had 14 cases requiring hospitalization in six months," she said. "Public health officials aren't finding it any more virulent than seasonal flu."