Healthy children age five to under 14 years; seniors 65 years and older with underlying health conditions now eligible to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine
York Region also adjusts clinic hours in response to expanded priority groups
NEWMARKET …quot;The Regional Municipality of York has expanded the eligibility for the H1N1 flu vaccine. Effective immediately, healthy children age five to less than 14 years and those age 65 and over with chronic underlying health conditions have been added to the provincial eligibility list for receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine.
Those now eligible to receive their H1N1 flu shot in York Region are:
• Healthy infants and children age six months to less than 14 years
• People with chronic underlying health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, cancer or a condition that affects the heart, liver, lung or immune system
• First responders - Police Officers, Emergency Medical Services Paramedics, Firefighters and Correctional officers only
• People living in a long-term care facility or hospital
• Pregnant women
• 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
“Expanding the eligibility criteria is a positive move as we continue our efforts to get the H1N1 vaccine into the arms of people who can benefit from it,” said Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region’s Medical Officer of Health. “Vaccinating this group will help reduce the spread of illness in our community. I encourage parents of children in this group to get their children immunized.”
In York Region, there are approximately 129,000 children age 5 to under 14.
Influenza-like illnesses, like seasonal flu viruses and the H1N1 flu virus, are caused by viruses that are easy to catch and easy to spread. Symptoms include a headache, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, fever, fatigue and weakness.
People 65 years of age and over who have underlying health conditions should consult with their physician regarding their H1N1 flu vaccination prior to receiving it.
York Region is also offering unadjuvanted vaccine to pregnant women only at community immunization clinics. Both adjuvanted and unadjvanted H1N1 flu vaccines may also be available from some participating family doctors.
When a more adequate supply of vaccine becomes available, H1N1 immunization clinics will open to the general population.
Most York Region community H1N1 flu shot clinics operate seven days a week and are scheduled to run until Friday, December 18th.
Please note that effective Monday, November 16th, new clinic times are as follows:
|
Municipality |
Location and Address |
Dates and Times |
|
Town of Markham
|
8100 Warden Avenue
(former Markham Hydro building) |
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
|
City of Vaughan |
Vellore Village Community Centre
1 Villa Royale Avenue |
Monday to Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
|
Town of Richmond Hill
|
Rouge Woods Community Centre
110 Shirley Drive |
Monday to Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
|
Town of Newmarket |
Ray Twinney
Recreation Complex
100 Eagle Street |
Monday to Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
|
Town of Georgina
|
Kin Community Hall
3 Fairpark Lane, Sutton |
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only
2 p.m. to 8 p.m. |
For updated information on this year’s flu season, please visit
www.york.ca/H1N1 or contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.
The H1N1 flu virus vaccine is being provided to York Region residents at no cost. For electronic tracking purposes only, residents attending the H1N1 flu virus clinics are encouraged to bring their health card and/or driver’s license. Vaccine will be offered to residents who attend a clinic without their health card.
Clinic dates and locations may be subject to change. Before going to a clinic, residents are encouraged to confirm clinic locations, dates and times on the website
www.york.ca/H1N1or by calling York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.
Map locations and driving directions for each of the five immunization clinics are available by clicking here.
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Media Contacts:
Jennifer Mitchell-Emmerson, Community and Health Services, York Region
Phone: 905 830-4444, ext. 4016 or After-hours Cell: 905 716-9753
Email:
jennifer.mitchellemmerson@york.ca
Patrick Casey, Director, Corporate Communications, York Region
Phone: 905 830-4444, ext. 1235 or Cell: 905 715-8211
Email:
patrick.casey@york.caIf you are unable to access information on this page with your screen reading software, please call 905-830-4444 extension 1233 and someone will assist you.
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