News Release                              For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                      October 9, 2009

Public Health Announces First Set of Flu Clinic Dates

The first of several community clinics for seasonal influenza immunizations takes place Thursday, October 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Grey Bruce Health Unit, 101 17^th Street East, Owen Sound. No appointment is necessary and clinics are free. Five clinics are scheduled in Grey Bruce throughout October for seniors 65 years of age and older. Only the seasonal influenza vaccine will be available. Seasonal flu vaccine is also available through physicians’ offices.

Community clinics for seasonal influenza will continue to be held throughout Grey Bruce until the H1N1 vaccine becomes available.

The H1N1 vaccine will not be available to all Ontario residents at one time. Therefore, a sequenced approach will be applied, beginning with distribution to those who would benefit most from the vaccine. Following these priority groups, the vaccine will be available to all other Ontarians who want and need it.   

Once H1N1 vaccine clinics are finished, additional clinics will be planned to provide seasonal influenza vaccine to all residents who live, work or attend school in Ontario.

New this year, the Grey Bruce Health Unit will use an electronic system to record all influenza immunizations. Residents are asked to bring their health card and driver’s licence to the clinic for informational purposes. Service will be provided to those who do not have two pieces of identification.

Seniors 65 years and older can also book an appointment for a seasonal influenza vaccine at one of the regularly scheduled immunization clinics held in Walkerton, Port Elgin and Owen Sound. Please call 519-376-9420 or 519-881-1920 or 1-800-263-3456. For further information, call Public Health or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca

-30-

Attachments: Priority Groups and Phases for the 2009/10 Flu Season 

                         Grey Bruce Flu Clinic Schedule 

For more information:

Jody Kroeplin R.N., B.Sc.N.

Public Health Nurse

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext 1323