VICTORIA - A Victoria flu-shot clinic was overwhelmed today as hundreds of people showed up for the H1N1 flu shot. Many people waited for hours just to register to get the vaccine. Dozens were turned away. Staffed to administer 600 H1N1 shots at what was supposed to be a seasonal flu-shot clinic, it took just one hour to sign people up.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority expected the H1N1 shot to be a popular vaccine, but wasn't quite ready to perform mass immunization before tomorrow. Now, the island's top doctor, Dr. Richard Stanwick, is asking for patience as the health authority coordinates vaccination efforts.

Based on a 12-week wave, the Vancouver Island Health Authority estimates that we are now at or close to our pandemic peak. The activity at emergency rooms is now erasing doubt that the second wave of H1N1 has arrived in Ontario. In Toronto, more than 300 patients visited one ER in a 24 hour period. That's more than double the number of patients that usually go to emergency at this time of the year. In Vancouver, the second wave of the H1N1 flu arrived two weeks ago with the Children's Hospital seeing more than 50 patients a day.

Hospital ER's on the island, however, are not flooded with people with flu-like-illnesses, but doctors officess are overwhelmed. "Looking at physicians officers," says Dr. Stanwick, "we're looking at levels three times higher in a normal flu season at it's peak. So it is here, there's no question. The duration? I wouldn't dissuate anyone from getting a vaccine."

To locate an H1N1 flu shot clinic near you, visit www.immunizebc.ca