Long Queues for Swine Flu Vaccines Saturday
A long queue for swine flu vaccinations formed in front of the Höyhtyä clinic in Oulu.
Image: YLE
Vaccinations against swine flu were administered during the weekend in many communities. In Turku, Oulu, and Lohja, members of risk groups, who have been given priority, have been given shots against the H1N1 virus on Saturday.
Municipalities are free to choose whether or not to administer the vaccines during the weekend.
In Oulu, hundreds lined up to get the shot on Saturday. Many were waiting already at seven in the morning, even though the doors did not open until nine.
In Turku, there was a long wait at one vaccination centre. The Turun Sanomat newspaper reported that a line of hundreds of people stretched for nearly half a kilometre on Saturday morning.
Epidemic Continues to Spread
The Swine flu continues to spread rapidly, particularly in Central Ostrobothnia and the Kainuu region, where the epidemic is strongest in the city of Kainuu.
In Central Ostrobothnia, the telephone hotline has been deluged with anxious callers, and many patients have shown up at public health clinics, says Pekka Nikula, head physician at the Central Ostrobothnia Central Hospital.
“The death of a child in Tornio has understandably alarmed parents. Children especially have shown up at clinics,” Nikula says.
More doctors and nurses are on duty now, dealing with the epidemic. Nikula expects the peak phase of the epidemic to last a few weeks.
“However, the epidemic is not out of control. We have the capacity to deal with this, even though next week will be busy.”
YLE