|
October 30, 2009
AUTHORITY WIDE – Starting today, the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) will be more stringently enforcing eligibility screening at H1N1 flu clinics to ensure those in the high risk groups get their shots first.
The high-risk groups who have priority for the first weeks of vaccinations are listed online at http://www.viha.ca/h1n1/public/vaccine.htm
During the first four days of flu clinics, wait times to get the H1N1 flu vaccine have spanned several hours at various locations across the region as public health officials worked to get people through the clinics as quickly as possible.
Public health staff are urging those who are coming to the clinics to wear short or loose sleeves to help speed up the delivery of the vaccine. In addition, VIHA is also temporarily suspending seasonal flu shots for seniors in order to further streamline the process and to focus on delivering the vaccine to those most at risk. Seniors’ flu clinics will resume later in November, the time of year that they are normally held. This change isn’t expected to have any impact on the rate of seasonal influenza among seniors this winter.
Visit www.viha.ca/h1n1 for clinic criteria, times and locations.
A comprehensive booklet on H1N1 preparedness titled Be Prepared Be Well is also available online and includes valuable information, such as, protecting yourself and your family against the virus, symptoms to look for and self-care. Visit: www.viha.ca/h1n1/
Media contact:
Shannon Marshall
VIHA Communications
250-370-8270
|
|