News Release                           For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                  November  9, 2009

Seniors and School-Age Children Eligible for H1N1 Vaccine in Grey Bruce

The priority group to receive the pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) vaccine has expanded, adding all public and high school-age children and seniors 65 years and older.

The vaccine will be offered, to the priority groups, at the community flu clinic beginning with the clinic today, 4:00 to 8:-00 p.m. at the Chesley Community Centre. (Full clinic schedule attached)

The vaccine will be available to those, in the priority group, with or without a family doctor/nurse practitioner

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)
• those age 65 and older
• pregnant women
• women up to 6 weeks post-partum (recently delivered a baby)
• children 6 months and up to 19 years of age (public and high school age) 
• household contacts and care providers of persons at high risk who
  cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines (household
  contacts and care providers of infants less than 6 months of age and
  people who are immunocompromised).
• healthcare workers
• Police Officers
• Firefighters
• Paramedics

The pH1N1 vaccine is also available through participating physicians across Grey Bruce. Please check with your physician or health care provider for vaccine availability and appointment times.

In addition to the pH1N1 vaccine, evening clinics will also offer Seasonal Influenza vaccine to seniors 65 years of age and older.

Grey Bruce residents are encouraged to tune in to local media and to visit the Public Health website at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca, as more information is made available. For further information, call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456.

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Attachment:  Community Flu Clinics Schedule as of Nov 9 2009 

For more information:

Karen Sweiger

Program Manager

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1230