H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Update

The H1N1 influenza vaccine is now available for EVERYBODY. We have scheduled new Flu Shot Clinics at the Family Focus Medical Clinics, the Medicine in Motion Medical Centre (www.medicineinmotion.ca) and Hammonds Plains Medical Clinic (832-9233)

It is still important for EVERYBODY to receive the H1N1 vaccine. It is SAFE and very EFFECTIVE. It will not only protect you from getting the H1N1 virus but also those around you. The more people that get the H1N1 vaccine, the more difficult it will be for this virus to spread.

You may call to schedule an appointment at one of the clinics scheduled below or present to any of the clinics to receive the H1N1 vaccine on a walk in basis or with a same day appointment. It is safe to receive the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations during the same visit.
All of the clinics continue to offer the seasonal flu vaccine as wellto any of the high risk individuals for this disease at no charge. The high risk groups for the seasonal influenza vaccine for 2009-2010 are:
 

• Children and adults with heart disease, lung disease (asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis), diabetes and other metabolic diseases, anemia, cancer, immunosuppression, kidney disease or immunodeficiency (HIV)
• Children and adolescents on long term ASA therapy
• People 65 years of age or older
• People who live with or care for individuals in the above three groups
• People of any age who live or work in a nursing home, small options or other residential or chronic care facilities
• All health-care workers and students in a health care training program
• Fire fighters, paramedics and police officers
• Pregnant women
• Children 6 months to 23 months of age
• Care givers for children <24mo
• People living in a home that is expecting a newborn during the influenza season (November 2009 and April 2010)

We plan to schedule additional Flu Shot Clinics in December when the H1N1 vaccine availability improves. 
Thank you for your on going understanding and patience with the influenza vaccination program this year. Please visit this website for future updates about the H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccination program or the link to the provincial government website at www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/cdpc/h1n1-influenza.asp for additional information.

On-Site Flu Shot Clinics

We will come to your workplace to administer the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines to your employees! The scheduling of these clinics will be determined by vaccine availability which means that we will not likely be in a position to start scheduling the On-site Flu Shot Clinics until later in November. Please call Sandra at 462-6250 for more details.