Five H1N1 immunization clinics operating in York Region today; Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Georgina

NEWMARKET – The Regional Municipality has added three additional H1N1 flu immunization clinics starting today, bringing the total to five with clinics in the City of Vaughan and Towns of Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Georgina. 

 

“This is York Region’s largest public health immunization program.  I wish to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation as we continue to experience a high demand for the H1N1 flu immunization,” said York Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karim Kurji.  “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.”

 

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

 

**A list of current York Region clinics, including hours of operation follows on the next page.
Currently, 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 please 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 Dr. Kurji.  “Community doctors are a very important component to this strategy, and we are grateful to those participating in this immunization program.”
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:
•  The acute onset of respiratory symptoms with fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius) and cough
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches
• 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, please contact your family physician or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

A list of current York Region clinics includes:

 

Municipality	Location and Address	Dates and Times
City of Vaughan	Vellore Village Community Centre 1 Villa Royale Avenue	October 28th to December 18th Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Town of Newmarket	Ray Twinney Recreation Complex 100 Eagle Street	October 28th to December 18th Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Town of Georgina (New Clinic Location)	Kin Community Hall 3 Fairpark Lane, Sutton	November 2nd to December 14th Mondays and Wednesdays only 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Town of Richmond Hill (New Clinic Location)	Rouge Woods Community Centre 110 Shirley Drive	November 2nd to December 18th Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Town of Markham (New Clinic Location)	8100 Warden Avenue (former Markham Hydro building)	November 2nd to December 18th Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

 

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/H1N1 or by calling York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.
Map locations and driving directions for each H1N1 flu immunization clinic are available by clicking here. 
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.
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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.ca