Quebec - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

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Re: Quebec - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Don't let a little bit of snow prevent your H1N1 flu shot: Montreal public health

<!-- begin content --><!-- this is is... -->Tue, 2009-12-08 16:33.
Shuyee Lee
Even with the heavy snow on the way tomorrow, Montreal Public Health officials say don't let that get in the way of getting the H1N1 flu shot.

They suggest taking the metro and going to a vaccination center directly accessible by the subway.

- Viau station : Olympic Stadium

- Place-D'Armes station : Palais des congr?s

- Atwater station : Place Alexis-Nihon

- Berri-UQAM station : l'UQAM, at the "Bo?te a lunch" near the glass wall in the Pavillon Hubert-Aquin. But this one is only open tomorrow and Thursday, and then next Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

http://www.cjad.com/news/565/1035186

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Re: Quebec - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability


Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc says beginning Dec. 19, anyone interested in getting vaccinated against the H1N1 virus may go to a local clinic, such as a CLSC. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot/File)

H1N1 vaccination centres to close Dec. 18

Updated: Thu Dec. 10 2009 4:36:19 PM
ctvmontreal.ca

With fears over the swine flu subsiding and lineups for the H1N1 shot dwindling, the Quebec government has announced that it will close the doors to vaccination centres on Dec. 18.

At the height of the province's flu vaccination campaign, as many as 150,000 people were being vaccinated each day.

The number has since dropped to about 90,000 people per day.

A total of 3.8 million Quebecers have been vaccinated against the H1N1 virus since the second wave of the swine flu began in August.

Dr. Horaccio Arruda, Quebec's director of public health protection told reporters on Thursday that 74 Quebecers have died from complications related to the virus.

Beginning Dec. 19, anyone interested in getting vaccinated against the H1N1 virus may go to a local clinic, such as a CLSC.

Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc said more information will be available next week.

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091210/mtl_flu_shots_091210/20091210/?hub=MontrealHome

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Re: Quebec - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

H1N1 vaccination sites to close Friday

Updated: Tue Dec. 15 2009 7:25:35 PM
ctvmontreal.ca

Quebec's mass vaccination clinics are set to close at the end of the week, though health authorities are making the shot available throughout December on a regional basis.

Only about 46 per cent of Montrealers have received the H1N1 vaccine, though health officials hope it'll be up to half the population by week's end.

Healthy adults make up the largest unvaccinated group, and some at Place Alexis Nihon said they are finally giving in.

"My mother sort of pushed me to do it, so I decided to go and do it - finally. I gave in," said one person receiving their vaccine.

"I'm off this week and do some Christmas shopping at the same time," said another.

Experts suggest the undecided examine the numbers closely. Out of about 18 million doses administered in Canada, there were 162 adverse reactions, and 4 people died. It's unclear if the deaths were related to the vaccine.

"On the other side, if we assume that out of the 30 million people in Canada, the other half got the disease, we had over 8000 hospitalizations, we had about 600 people end up in intensive care units on ventilators and we had about 300 deaths. So if what you're worried about is getting really sick or being in a hospital or dying, though the risk of both are low, it's a lot lower if you've had the vaccine," said Dr. Timothy Brewer, a director with McGill University's medical school.

Health authorities are making the H1N1 shot available on Dec. 21, 22 ,23, 29 and 30, and then again in January on a region-by-region basis.

For information on your region, click here.

Seasonal flu shots will be available at doctors' offices, clinics and in the workplace as of Jan. 11, and in many cases, H1N1 shots will be available at that time.

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091215/mtl_H1N1_091215/20091215?hub=MontrealHome

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Re: Quebec - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Concordia University

H1N1 vaccination clinic in the LB Atrium on Friday, Dec. 18

An H1N1 vaccination clinic will be set up by CSSS (Centre de sant? et de services sociaux) Cavendish in the McConnell Building / Library Building Atrium (1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd., West) on Friday, December 18, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The clinic is open to all Concordia students, faculty and staff.
Please Note: International students will need to show either an insurance card or provincial health insurance card.

Posted on December 16, 2009

http://news.concordia.ca/notices/015893.shtml?referID=fns_tab_sidebar

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Re: Quebec - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Quebec: H1N1 vax campaign continues under new terms & conditions

Posted by Hal Newman ? December 19, 2009

Quebec QC--The influenza A(H1N1) vaccination campaign, which has
already made it possible to protect more than four million Quebeckers, will continue in December and early 2010 under new terms and conditions, National Public Health Director Dr. Alain Poirier announced today.

?As Minister Yves Bolduc confirmed last Thursday, now that the majority of people have been vaccinated, it is no longer necessary to keep the large vaccination centres, designed for mass vaccination in a relatively short period of time, open. As a result, they will close on Friday, December 18. Our decision to use this formula allowed us to reach the most people possible. For Qu?bec, it was a win-win solution. We will naturally continue to offer the vaccine free of charge but in a less centralized manner,? explained Dr. Poirier.

As of December 18, each health and social services centre (CSSS) will determine where the vaccine will be offered. People will be able to get the information they need by contacting their local CSSS or consulting the www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca website. During the Holiday period, the vaccine will be available throughout Qu?bec on December 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30. To reflect certain regional realities, vaccination may be offered on a broader basis in certain regions.

As of January 5, the health network will maintain its vaccination offer to the general public. The health and social services boards will inform Quebeckers of vaccination terms and conditions and where they can go to get vaccinated.

As the National Public Health Director pointed out: ?The virus is still circulating in Qu?bec and year-end get-togethers are conducive to the flu?s spread. This is why, more than ever, we suggest that people get vaccinated, especially since we could be hit by a third wave within a number of weeks or months.?

Civil safety spokesperson H?l?ne Chagnon said that she is convinced that Qu?bec?s performance in fighting influenza A(H1N1) and its ongoing efforts based on ambitious goals reflect large-scale mobilization, far-reaching coordination of government action and ongoing dissemination of information to citizens.

Details regarding the vaccination campaign?s progress in the different regions are available on the www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca website. All necessary information can also be obtained by calling Services Qu?bec, 644-4545, available in area codes 418 and 514 and, toll-free, under 1-877. This hotline is complementary to the Info-Sant? 8-1-1 line, which answers questions related to physical health.

http://bigmedicine.ca/wordpress/2009/12/quebec-h1n1-vax-campaign-continues-under-new-terms-conditions/

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Re: Quebec - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Second wave of H1N1 over in Quebec: minister

Mass vaccination campaign 'unprecedented success'

Last Updated: Thursday, January 7, 2010 | 5:55 PM ET

CBC News


Quebec's Health Minister Yves Bolduc and chief public health officer Dr. Alain Porier shake hands following a news conference in Quebec City Thursday. (CBC) <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3640" name=GENERATOR><LINK title=/iw/ewebeditpro20/feature.css disabled href="/iw/ewebeditpro20/feature.css" rel=stylesheet>

Thanks to the mass vaccination of the population, the second wave of the swine flu is over in Quebec, said Health Minister Yves Bolduc Thursday.

It is also unlikely the province will be hit by a third wave of the flu because so many people were vaccinated against the H1N1 virus, Bolduc said.

The minister met with the media in Quebec City to provide an update on the province’s vaccination campaign.

More than 4.3 million Quebecers, or 57 per cent of the population was vaccinated against the flu, Bolduc said.

The turnout is unprecedented, and will pay off in the long term said Quebec’s chief public health officer Dr. Alain Poirier.

Bolduc rejected suggestions that the province had overreacted to the swine flu.

It spent $200-million on a campaign that involved mass vaccination clinics, millions of doses of vaccine and extensive advertising, The virus was responsible for 82 deaths in the province during its second wave.

“If we had many deaths today, people would be saying that we should have done more, if we had done nothing,” Bolduc said.

Although the risk of catching swine flu is reduced, Bolduc said those who still have not been vaccinated against the virus should contact their local CLSC to find out where they can get the shot.

He said occasional cases of the virus are still likely to occur.

Seasonal vaccination to start

The minister also confirmed the province will go ahead with its seasonal flu campaign starting Monday.

The campaign, which usually begins in October, was delayed in order to focus on fighting the swine flu.

The vaccine will be offered free of charge to people at-risk for the seasonal flu including children between the ages of six and 23 months, seniors over 60, people with chronic illnesses and family members of those considered at-risk.

Even those who were vaccinated against the H1N1 vaccine, should be vaccinated against the seasonal flu, said Quebec’s chief public health officer Dr. Alain Poirier.

"The vaccine against the seasonal flu doesn’t provide protection against the pandemic flu and vice versa," Poirier said.

The seasonal flu will be offered free of charge to at-risk populations at doctors offices and CLSCs.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2010/01/07/quebec-h1n1-over.html