High risk groups at the front of the line for H1N1 vaccines Monday

Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit went on record today urging residents to get their H1N1 vaccination.

Amid all the discussion about the effectiveness of the vaccine and if is of any benefit Chirico says the vaccine has gone through the same process of the regular vaccine course and is a safe and effective way for residents to protect themselves against the disease. However he does note that there is a sector of the community who should not get the vaccine because of current health conditions; they include those who have anaphylactic or allergic reaction to the flu vaccine, allergic to eggs, or those with high fevers.





The H1N1 vaccinations will start in the city on Monday for those in the high risk groups and they are: children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years of age, pregnant women, those under of age of 65 with chronic medical conditions and health care workers.



**********************

The North Bay Parry Sound District announced this morning that H1N1 clinics will start Monday, October 26. This comes after the announcement from the Public Health Agency of Canada that regulators approved the vaccine for Canadians and the vaccine has arrived from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

“The H1N1 virus is circulating in our community and influenza activity is increasing in emergency departments, doctor’s offices and schools.” said Dr. Jim Chirico, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. “Getting the H1N1 shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family and your friends from getting ill. The Health Unit expects to have 10,000 doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine within the next few days. We will start with those who have a greater risk of complications and then we will deliver the vaccine to anyone who wants it. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get the H1N1 vaccine.”

Due to the amount of vaccine that is initially available, the first of the Health Unit’s H1N1 vaccination clinics will only be open to specific “high-risk” groups:
• children between 6 months and less than five years of age
• household members and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or may not respond to the vaccine
• pregnant women and women who gave birth within the last six weeks, in discussion with their health care provider
• First Nations people
• those under the age of 65 with chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes or who are extremely obese
• Health care workers

Clinics for high-risk people will take place:
• Monday, October 26 at the Rorab Shrine Club, 1260 Brookes St, from 12 to 6 pm
• Tuesday, October 27 in the Parry Sound Mall at the Health Unit office from 2 to 6 pm
• Wednesday, October 28 at Rorab Shrine Club, 1260 Brookes St, from 12 to 6 pm
• Clinics in Mattawa and West Nipissing will be confirmed soon for Thursday and Friday

The H1N1 vaccine will be available at clinics to anyone in the community who wants it. These will be held starting October 31. All dates, times and locations of the clinics will be listed on the H1N1 Vaccine Clinic schedule available on our website at www.healthunit.biz. The schedule will also be in your local newspaper, posted throughout our communities, and clinics will be promoted on some local radio stations.

If you have any questions about H1N1, visit the H1N1 section of our website at www.healthunit.biz/h1n1.asp or call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000.

The H1N1 Vaccine
• The Pandemic (H1N1) influenza vaccine is produced in Canada by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and is being delivered to health authorities across Canada.
• The government of Canada has ordered more than 50 million doses of the vaccine with the aim of providing it to anyone who wants it before the end of the year.
• The vaccine that will initially be available contains an adjuvant.
• Adjuvants are products that are added to vaccines to boost an individual’s immune response and to increase the amount of vaccine available for distribution.
• The adjuvant contained in the vaccine is made up of water and natural oils, and has been tested in 45,000 people.

Symptoms of H1N1
• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• body aches
• headache
• chills and fatigue
• children under 5 years may have vomiting and/or diarrhea

If you have severe symptoms, like those below, seek medical attention immediately:
• difficulty breathing
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• severe or persistent vomiting
• a high fever (in adults) that lasts more than two days
• severe tiredness in a child
• confusion or difficulty waking an ill person

**********************