Getting Your H1N1 Flu Vaccine   |
|
November 2, 2009
Getting Your H1N1 Flu Vaccine
Approximately 80 per cent of local family physicians are immunizing their patients with H1N1 flu vaccine. Please call your physician to inquire about how to get your vaccination.
For those without a family physician, or whose physician is not administering the H1N1 flu vaccine, Public Health has streamlined the H1N1 flu vaccination process in community clinics to minimize wait times.
Beginning at the November 3rd clinic, a wristband system will be used. Numbered wristbands will be provided to people in the order they arrive. Please arrive no earlier than one hour prior to the start of the clinic, as line-ups will not be permitted on the property prior to that time. Wristbands will not be distributed until one hour prior to the clinic’s start.
As a reminder, these clinics are for people in priority groups only. People will be required to verify that they and their family members are in a priority group before receiving a wristband. Priority groups who are eligible to receive the vaccine are:
- People under 65 years of age with chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, etc.)
- Children 6 months to under 5 years of age
- Pregnant women
- Health care workers
- House contacts and care providers of persons at higher risk who cannot be immunized (e.g. children under 6 months) or may not respond to vaccines (e.g. those who are immune-compromised)
Those who do not meet the criteria are not eligible to receive the vaccine at this time, and will be asked to return to a clinic at a later date. Please continue to check the Waterloo Region Pandemic website at www.waterlooregionpandemic.ca, or call the automated clinic phone line at 519-883-2324, for upcoming clinic dates and additions to the clinic schedule.
Beginning this week pregnant women are invited to call the health unit at 519-883-2272, to make an appointment to receive their vaccine at the Public Health office in Waterloo. Pregnant women with young children may speak with a public health nurse about having their children vaccinated at the same appointment.
- 30 -
For more information, please contact: Lu-Ann Procter, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, 519-883-2244
|
|
