It’s a different flu season this year!

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
News Release

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Every year, the World Health Organization analyzes data to determine the dominant influenza strains circulating and recommends vaccination strategies accordingly. While Influenza A and B continue to affect some people, H1N1 is by far the most dominant flu strain circulating globally this year.

“This year it’s a different flu season and our flu vaccination strategy must be different as well,” says Andrea McLellan, Manager of Vaccine Preventable Diseases for the Health Unit. “When it comes to seasonal flu, every year our seniors are consistently the hardest hit with complications. Evidence clearly shows seasonal flu vaccination protects them from becoming ill; therefore, we will provide seniors with seasonal flu vaccinations,”

A limited number of Seniors’ Flu Vaccine Clinics are scheduled during the month of October. They will be held at:

Burk’s Falls Senior’s Centre, Tuesday, October 6 from 10 am to 2 pm

Mattawa Golden Age Club, Wednesday, October 7 from 10 am to 3 pm

Sturgeon Falls Golden Age Club, Thursday, October 8 from 9 am until 2 pm;

the Health Unit office on Commercial Street in North Bay, Friday, October 9 from 9 am to 4 pm

the Health Unit office in the Parry Sound Mall, Tuesday, October 13 from 9 am to 3 pm

Later in the fall following the seniors’ clinics, H1N1 vaccine will be made available for

young children and adults. Extensive data collected worldwide shows that adults and young children are the most vulnerable to complications from H1N1, therefore the H1N1 vaccine will be offered to them when it becomes available.

This year’s flu vaccine strategy is different to ensure the right kind of protection for everyone. Both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccine clinics will be promoted through a variety of mediums when clinic details are finalized.

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