Five H1N1 clinics operating in York as of Monday Vaccine available to individuals in high risk classes

York Region this week added three more H1N1 flu immunization clinics starting Monday, bringing the total to five.

The clinics are in Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Georgina.

“This is York Region’s largest public health immunization program,” declared Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karim Kurji. “I wish to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation as we continue to experience a high demand for the H1N1 flu immunization. Everyone who wants to get the H1N1 flu shot will get one. However, we continue to provide the vaccine only to those individuals who most need it.”

“We’re getting daily updates,” Mayor Margaret Black reported.

The possibility of a clinic in King has not been ruled out, although she said there haven’t been any calls for one. She said king residents seem willing to go to clinics in Newmarket or Richmond Hill.

Some groups of people are at higher risk of contracting H1N1, developing complications from H1N1 or passing the flu to other higher-risk people. For this reason the H1N1 vaccine is currently only available to:

• People under age 65 with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, cancer or a condition that affects the heart, liver, lung, or immune system.

• Pregnant women.

• Healthy children aged six months to less than five years.

• People living in remote and isolated settings or communities.

• Health care workers.

• Household contacts and care providers of infants under six months or persons who may not respond to vaccines.

As of Monday, each clinic has a total daily average capacity of 1,300 patients. This number will increase with the addition of staff assigned to each clinic. People are asked to be patient and prepared for a long wait.

“In an effort to get the vaccine into the arms of the people who most need it, we began rolling out vaccine to local participating physicians last week,” added Kurji. “Community doctors are a very important component to this strategy, and

Shipments of vaccine for local physicians recently arrived to the public health department. Some vaccine needs to be re-packaged into smaller packages and distributed to local doctor’s offices and clinics.

Re-packaging large boxes into smaller ones is important because it reduces the amount of vaccine wasted. Residents are reminded that family doctors similarly will give the vaccine only to people in the first priority group who need the vaccine the most.

Symptoms of H1N1 flu virus

H1N1 flu virus is a respiratory illness that causes symptoms similar to those of the regular human seasonal flu.

Symptoms may include acute onset of respiratory symptoms with fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius) and cough; sore throat; muscle aches; and joint pain or weakness

If you have fever and cough and one or more of the other symptoms, stay at home until you no longer have a fever and are feeling better.

In children under five years of age, vomiting or diarrhea may also be present and fever may not be prominent. In more severe cases, or in people with chronic health conditions, complications such as pneumonia may develop.

If you have any concerns about you or your family's health, contact your family physician or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The current list of Clinics in York includes Vellore Village Community Centre at 1 Villa Royale Ave. in Vaughan, Monday to Friday from noon until 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.; Ray Twinney Recreation Complex at 100 Eagle St. in Newmarket, Monday to Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Kin Community Hall at 3 Fairpark Lane in Sutton, Mondays and Wednesdays only from noon to 8 p.m.; Rouge Woods Community Centre at 110 Shirley Dr. in Richmond Hill, Monday to Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and 8100 Warden Ave. (former Markham Hydro building) seven days per week from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Clinic dates and locations may be subject to change. Before going to a clinic, residents are encouraged to confirm locations, dates and times on the Web site at www.york.ca/H1N1 or by calling York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361- 5653.