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3 • POSTED ON November 20, 2009 Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has opened its H1N1 vaccination clinics to the general public, said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health.
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has opened its H1N1 vaccination clinics to the general public, said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health. "After more than three weeks of concentrating on priority populations, we now have the supply and the capacity to begin offering vaccine to the general public,” said Levy. “The H1N1 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the flu this year and I encourage all residents to get vaccinated.” Clinic locations, schedules and wait times are available at ottawa.ca/health and can also be obtained by calling 3-1-1. Both the adjuvanted and the unadjuvanted vaccine will be available at the clinics. The limited supply of unadjuvanted vaccine will be primarily offered to pregnant women and healthy people between age 10 and 64 years of age. For people with chronic medical conditions and younger children, the adjuvanted vaccine is recommended to provide the optimal Immune response. People in the following groups are asked to identify themselves to City staff when they arrive at vaccination clinics: health care workers, pregnant women, people with physical disabilities and children coming for their second dose. Not all children will require a second dose of the vaccine as previously recommended. Recent medical data indicate that the only children who need a second dose are those between six months and three years, as well as those under 10 who have chronic medical conditions. Parents bringing their children between six months and three years of age for a second dose will be asked to show the immunization record that was handed to them when the children received the first dose. "I am pleased that OPH will now offer this important vaccine to all residents who want it," said Councillor Diane Deans, chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee. "The large interest for the vaccine in Ottawa may translate in longer line-ups. But I can assure you that City staff are working hard to ensure a smooth process for residents seeking the vaccine." OPH has distributed 190,000 doses of vaccine to Ottawa residents through mass vaccination clinics, and approved alternate immunizers (such as hospitals and local doctors) and outreach clinics that target specific and at risk populations like group homes and people living in shelters. Plans are now underway to open a one-day clinic at the Cyrville Community Centre on Saturday November 21, another vaccination clinic site in Barrhaven, and a special clinic run by The Ottawa Hospital. More information about these new sites will be available later today. For more information on H1N1 and vaccination clinics, visit ottawa.ca/health or contact the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744.
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