New wristband process introduced to minimize wait times at H1N1 clinics

Wristbands will be handed out by City staff to those in line at all vaccination clinics to minimize wait times and lineups, to allow people to establish their place in the queue, leave the clinic and return at a time closer to when they will receive their vaccination.
Wristbands will be colour-coded and numbered. The number will determine at what time that individual should return to the clinic to receive their vaccination. When putting on their wristband, residents are reminded not to cover the number. There is a limit of one wristband per individual, however 1 person may request enough wristbands for their household (i.e., 4 or 5 wristbands).
Starting Saturday, October 31, 2009 the schedule for handing out wristbands will be as follows:
Weekends
Wristbands will be handed out beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Clinics will begin at 9 a.m. so people receiving the first colour-coded batch will be advised to remain in line and not leave the clinic
Weekdays
Wristbands at all clinics except at 100 Constellation will be handed out beginning at 9 a.m. for clinics beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Wristbands at the clinic at 100 Constellation will be handed out at 1 p.m. for the clinic beginning at 5 p.m.
It is important that those with wristbands arrive back at the clinic at their designated time to ensure that they hold their place in the queue, that they have sufficient time to register for their vaccination and so that the vaccination program is not delayed for anyone else. Those not back at their designated time will lose their place in the queue.
The wristband process is designed to minimize wait times. In order to ensure that the maximum number of individuals are vaccinated each day and that the clinics are fully utilized, the City still expects some lineups and wait times for those wishing to get their H1N1 vaccination.
Ottawa Public Health continues to focus on providing the vaccine to the following groups of residents in the first seven to 14 days of operation:
People 6 months old to 65-years-old with chronic medical conditions
Healthy children between 6 months and five years of age
Health care workers
Household contacts and care providers of infants younger than six months and people with compromised immune systems
Pregnant women
Pregnant women will also have the option to receive the non-adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine, which is expected to be delivered in mid-November.

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