Check the clinic schedule for the latest information. You may also contact your doctor, local pharmacy or walk-in clinic and ask about their plans for H1N1 immunizations.
People who are receiving the H1N1 vaccine, and for whom the seasonal flu vaccine is normally recommended, will be able to get both shots at the same time.
There are two types of H1N1 flu vaccine: adjuvanted and unadjuvanted. Most Canadians will receive the adjuvanted vaccine. An adjuvant is a substance that boosts immune response. The unadjuvanted vaccine does not include this booster. Read more about unadjuvanted vaccine.
Pregnant women can get the unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine.
- Pregnant women should call their maternity care providers (including midwives, family doctors, nurse practitioners andobstetricians) to confirm whether unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine is available there.
- Public clinics are offering unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women.
Healthy children ages 10 and over may be immunized with unadjuvanted vaccine, depending on supplies available. Both types of vaccine are considered safe and are approved for healthy children ages 10 and over.
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The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has updated its dosing recommendations for H1N1 immunization for children under 10 years of age. Please visit the PHAC website for the most current information.
Also see: Making Vaccinations Easier for Children: There is a Way
Please note:
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Children in Grade 8 and under (age 13) will require a parent to accompany them to the clinic to provide consent before the child can receive their vaccination.
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Generally, children over the age of 13 do not require parental consent, but public health nurses may make case by case decisions on whether to provide the vaccine depending on circumstances, maturity of the child and their ability to provide informed consent without coercion.
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Healthy children ages 10 and over may be immunized with
unadjuvanted vaccine, depending on supplies available. Both types of vaccine are considered safe and are approved for healthy children ages 10 and over.
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Yes. Updates and details for VIHA employees are on the VIHA Intranet at: https://intranet.viha.ca/flu
VIHA employees who receive the flu shot elsewhere (such as at a doctor's office or public clinic) should provide documentation to Wellness & Safety, including date and place of immunization, type of vaccine, and their name and employee number.
Health care workers who do not work for VIHA should stay in contact with their employer to determine when and where they can be immunized.
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GBS is a rare neurological disorder. GBS rates increased during the US swine flu campaign in 1976. The Institute of Medicine ruled that there was no conclusive evidence linking this increase to the vaccine. The Public Health Agency of Canada has established a reporting network of neurologists to actively investigate any and all new cases of GBS, and to assess any relationship to vaccine receipt. For more about GBS, read the HealthLinkBC page.
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