News Release                            For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                    October 28, 2009

First pH1N1 Vaccine Clinic in Grey Bruce

The Grey Bruce Health Unit is anticipating large numbers for the first Pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) vaccine clinic being offered to priority groups, October 29 at the Grey Bruce Health Unit, 101 17^th Street East, Owen Sound from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Those attending the clinic will be pre-screened prior to receiving vaccine to ensure they meet the priority group guidelines.

With the large volume of people, there will likely be a wait time to receive the vaccine.

Please bring your Ontario health card and driver’s licence to facilitate registration.

Please wear a short sleeve shirt.

No one with a fever will be vaccinated, as the vaccine should not be given to people already ill.

The vaccine will be available to those who do not have a family doctor/nurse practitioner, or whose doctor/nurse practitioner is not offering the vaccine and who are listed in the priority group to receive the vaccine.

The priority group for pH1N1 vaccine includes:

• those with chronic medical conditions under the age of 65 (chronic conditions include: chronic respiratory disease including asthma, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases, cancer, immunodeficiency or immunosuppression (due to underlying therapy and/or disease including HIV/AIDS), renal disease, anemia or hemoglobinopathy, morbid obesity, children less than 18 years of age on long term aspirin therapy, conditions that compromise the management of respiratory secretions and are associated with an increased risk of aspiration, such as neurologic conditions or cognitive disorders)
• pregnant women with pre-existing health conditions or who are more than 20 weeks gestation
• women up to four weeks post-partum
• healthy children 6 months - 5 years old
• Healthcare workers (staff members who work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health care provider offices, Community Care Access Centres (CCAC), contract nursing agencies, Emergency Medical Services. Medical doctors and nurses, Health care students with direct patient contact, Pharmacists and pharmacy assistants, Mental health workers, Emergency personnel who respond to health emergencies)

Children 6 months up to 10 years of age will require a second pH1N1 vaccine 21 days following the initial injection.

The pH1N1 vaccine is being made available to participating physicians across Grey Bruce this week. Please check with your physician or health care provider later this week for vaccine availability and appointment times.

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For more information:

Denna Leach

Program Manager

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1462