News Release
For immediate release ~ October 21, 2009

H1N1 immunization clinics

Levels of influenza like respiratory disease are rising in Algoma. Several lab confirmed cases of pandemic H1N1 have appeared in the past 2 weeks; evidence that some of this influenza like illness is caused by H1N1.

H1N1 vaccine is being shipped to Algoma and throughout Ontario and Canada.

Algoma Public Health will administer this vaccine over the next 6 weeks in the following manner:

1) DELIVERY
a) Community clinics
b) Vaccine will be offered in all schools
c) Some Algoma physicians may also be involved in this delivery, providing H1N1 vaccine to patients (especially persons with chronic conditions) they will be seeing in the next 6 weeks.

Community clinics and school sites will be the major focus of the mass delivery to the community.

2) SEQUENCE
a) Initial emphasis in community clinics will be to immunize all those with serious underlying medical conditions, particularly those under 65 years of age.
b) All children between 6 months and 5 years of age.
c) Pregnant women: Pregnant women beyond 20 weeks and all pregnant women with underlying medical conditions will be offered adjuvanted vaccine which will be available in the week of October 26th onward. Healthy women less than 20 weeks pregnant can receive unadjuvanted vaccine in November when that vaccine becomes available.
d) all health care workers will be urged to receive H1N1 vaccine from October 26th onward (at their health care setting if it is available there or at a community clinic).
e) All citizens who want the vaccine will be offered it over the next 6 weeks.

3) APPOINTMENTS
Algoma Public Health community clinics will be accessed through booked appointments. The Group Health Centre will book all clinic appointments through the following numbers:
Appointment lines are open this Saturday and Sunday, October 24th and 25th, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.  From Monday to Friday, the lines are open from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. 
In Sault Ste. Marie, call 541-2332 and in the Algoma district, call 1-800-469-2449.

Community clinics will be organized and managed under this booking system with preference for earlier appointments directed at those in the higher risk groups.

Algoma Public Health will suspend activities other than immediately vital services to accommodate this mass vaccination over the next 6 weeks. If large numbers of people access this vaccine by early December, Algoma should avoid large scale H1N1 activity this winter, a time when communities would be most vulnerable to the spread of this respiratory disease.

For more information on H1N1, please visit www.algomapublichealth.com or www.ghc.on.ca.

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Media contact only:
Dr. Northan, Medical Officer of Health, Algoma Public Health (705) 759-5421
ID#  09-65