Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

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Sask. says H1N1 vaccinations could start next week for health workers

<DL class=author><DD class="date published">Published on October 20th, 2009 <DD class="date display_none"> <DT class=vcard>The Canadian Press </DT></DL><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> printAdTag('300x250','','');</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=javascript1.1 src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/tc.sk/news;ss=canada_-_world;atitle=2009-10-20;pg=content;pos=but1;tile=2;sz=300x250;ord=12560 86992295?"></SCRIPT>
REGINA - Saskatchewan residents who are most at risk for H1N1 flu could get the vaccine in a couple of weeks under a plan unveiled Tuesday by the provincial government.

Dr. Moira McKinnon, Saskatchewan's chief medical officer of health, says the first vaccine shipment of 56,000 doses has arrived in the province, but she adds the rollout plan depends on when the vaccine gets regulatory approval.

?If we receive authorization for the vaccine, which we hope to receive in the next few days, we will able to begin vaccinating earlier - perhaps even as early as next week,? says McKinnon.

?We will begin with health-care workers, moving into the risk groups of those with underlying health conditions, young children and pregnant women.?

McKinnon says about 120,000 people are in the high-risk categories, including First Nations and those in remote communities. People will be asked to complete a questionnaire when they go to an immunization clinic to determine if they are in a high-risk group. Shots for everyone else will follow the week of Nov. 16.

McKinnon acknowledges that vaccine already shipped to provinces is raising concerns for pregnant women. Those doses contain adjuvants, or compounds which boost the immune system's response to vaccine, allowing for smaller doses. There's no data on the use of so-called adjuvanted flu vaccine in pregnant women and McKinnon says she knows some women might be hesitant to get the shot.

?If they feel insecure about the adjuvanted (vaccine), they can wait.

They have the choice,? says McKinnon. ?Obviously for pregnant women it's a sensitive issue.?

McKinnon says doses of the non-adjuvanted vaccine are expected to arrive in mid-November. But she says pregnant women can get the adjuvanted vaccine as soon as it's available and should do so if H1N1 starts to rapidly spread.

Other countries have already begun vaccinations.

The United States has started giving swine flu shots to people in groups thought to be at greater risk, such as children and health-care workers.

Japan started its vaccinations Monday and the United Kingdom is expected to start later this week.

Saskatchewan has had five H1N1-related deaths, including that of a teenage boy earlier this month. But McKinnon says the province will not be too late in administering the vaccine as the second wave of swine flu ripples across Canada, noting that the shot provides immunity in about three to seven days.

?It would be good if we could have the vaccine today, all of the vaccine today, but we don't,? she says. ?But we do have other measures. We have public health measures and we have anti-virals.?

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/News/Canada_-_World/2009-10-20/article-135593/Sask._says_H1N1_vaccinations_could_start_next_week_for_health_workers/1

[Pathfinder]

Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Sask. says enough H1N1 flu shots for pregnant women, young children


Published on November 2nd, 2009
<DL class=author><DD class="date display_none"></DD></DL>The Canadian Press
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> printAdTag('300x250','','');</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=javascript1.1 src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/tc.sk/news;ss=canada_-_world;atitle=2009-11-02;pg=content;pos=but1;tile=2;sz=300x250;ord=12572 10300457?"></SCRIPT>

REGINA - Health officials in Saskatchewan say they have enough swine flu vaccine this week for pregnant women and children under the age of five, but other high risk groups will have to wait for now.

?We are refining our plans week to week based on the vaccine supply,? Dr. Saqib Shahab, deputy chief medical health officer, said Monday.

?As we know the vaccine supply for this week has been significantly reduced. We are optimistic that the vaccine supply will resume for next week and based on that we will be announcing further groups that are eligible for vaccination.?

Shahab said about 150,000 doses will have been given in the province by the middle of the week. The number includes vaccinations for pregnant women, women who gave birth within the last four weeks, young children and health-care workers who rolled up their sleeves for the shot last week.

The initial plan was to vaccinate all high-risk groups, including people with underlying medical conditions, in the two weeks starting Monday. Immunization clinics were supposed to start Nov. 16 for the general public.

But the rollout was changed after the province said Friday it would be receiving 13,000 doses in its next shipment, not the 60,000 it expected.

The flood of people to get the vaccine has forced at least one province to temporarily suspend all swine-flu vaccination clinics. Alberta is facing a supply shortage because it initially decided to vaccinate everyone who wanted a flu shot. The province had requested those not in high-risk groups stay away from clinics for now, but that didn't happen and long lineups resulted. Health officials now are reworking their plan.

Shahab said he doesn't foresee that happening in Saskatchewan.
?We are giving the vaccine as soon as it comes to high-risk groups. At the moment it's a fine balance and we seem to be striking the right balance.?

Shahab acknowledged that flu shots for the general population probably will be delayed, but he said that doesn't mean people should give up on getting the vaccine.

?Even if we see the second wave go through, it only means about 20 per cent of people are going to get exposed. It still leaves 70, 80 per cent who are not exposed and we don't want a third and a fourth and a fifth wave, so our message remains: when your time comes do get the vaccine.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/News/Canada_-_World/2009-11-02/article-169129/Sask._says_enough_H1N1_flu_shots_for_pregnant_women,_young_children/1

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

H1N1 Flu Vaccinations in Saskatchewan


Every resident of Saskatchwan will have the opportunity to be vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus during the coming weeks, without charge.
Health regions have begun flu clinics for groups considered to be at higher risk of complications from H1N1 influenza, the week of November 2. See the link to Higher-risk Groups for more detailed risk criteria.


<TABLE class="" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>

</TD><TD></TD><TD align=left width="100%">H1N1 Flu Immunization Program Common Questions
More information about H1N1 flu vaccinations.


</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>

</TD><TD></TD><TD align=left width="100%">Consent Form for H1N1 Vaccinations
Read the information sheet at the end of the form. To save time, bring a filled-in consent form to the H1N1 flu vaccination clinic for each person getting a flu shot.


</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>

</TD><TD></TD><TD align=left width="100%">Higher-risk Groups - H1N1 Vaccinations
Lists of groups given priority for H1N1 vaccinations, due to higher risk.


</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Use the map to find local flu clinic dates and locations

Click on your health region on the map below, to see the latest information. Once a health region posts its schedule, the link will be updated to take you directly to that information. If you do not see a flu clinic listed please check back here. This will be the first place flu clinic information will be updated.

<MAP name=FrontPageMap><AREA shape=POLY alt="Sunrise RHA" coords=329,475,329,475,331,483,328,483,328,482,325 ,482,324,483,323,483,323,484,322,484,322,482,321,4 81,320,482,317,482,317,481,313,481,312,482,312,483 ,309,483,308,482,302,482,302,481,300,481,300,480,2 98,480,298,479,297,479,297,480,296,480,295,479,295 ,478,291,478,291,479,290,479,290,480,289,481,288,4 81,288,482,287,482,287,483,286,483,286,469,282,469 ,282,463,278,463,278,458,271,459,271,451,270,451,2 70,429,273,429,273,428,274,428,274,430,281,430,281 ,426,285,426,285,423,284,423,284,415,288,415,288,4 08,291,408,302,407,324,407,324,421,325,421,325,425 ,326,434,326,439,327,449,327,451,328,464,329,464 href="http://www.sunrisehealthregion.sk.ca/default.aspx?page=121"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Regina Qu'Appelle RHA" coords=207,459,207,459,207,449,218,449,218,455,219 ,455,219,456,218,456,218,466,219,467,219,469,220,4 70,220,471,222,473,222,474,223,474,223,475,224,475 ,226,478,227,478,227,473,230,473,230,464,233,464,2 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coords=156,536,156,536,156,525,160,525,160,521,159 ,521,160,520,163,520,163,514,167,514,167,489,164,4 89,164,477,165,477,165,476,166,475,166,472,167,472 ,167,471,168,471,168,472,170,471,171,471,171,470,1 72,470,172,469,171,469,171,467,179,467,179,471,204 ,471,204,478,205,478,205,482,206,482,206,488,204,4 88,204,489,205,490,206,490,209,493,215,493,215,504 ,220,504,220,508,221,508,221,526,210,526,210,537,2 11,537,211,542,209,542,209,543,207,542,207,544,204 ,544,204,548,195,548,195,551,196,551,196,559,189,5 59,166,558,167,547,167,536 href="http://www.fhhr.ca/H1N1_info.htm"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Prairie North RHA" coords=101,371,90,371,84,370,70,370,70,361,71,348, 71,343,72,330,73,322,76,285,78,286,78,288,81,288,8 1,290,84,290,84,291,85,291,85,292,87,292,96,293,96 ,294,105,294,105,293,108,293,108,290,110,290,110,2 87,114,287,114,290,125,291,125,310,139,311,139,318 ,128,318,128,325,124,325,124,328,125,328,124,332,1 18,332,118,333,117,334,117,352,118,352,118,354,117 ,354,116,358,117,358,117,361,124,361,124,372,135,3 73,135,378,131,378,131,382,130,381,129,381,129,380 ,128,380,128,379,127,379,127,380,119,380,119,383,1 16,382,116,383,109,383,109,379,105,379,106,372 href="http://www.pnrha.ca/bins/doc.asp?rdc_id=3692"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Prince Albert Parkland RHA" coords=135,358,135,358,136,354,137,354,137,352,136 ,352,136,334,137,333,137,332,143,332,144,328,143,3 28,143,325,147,325,147,318,158,318,158,311,173,311 ,173,304,192,304,191,318,191,319,210,319,210,300,2 21,300,221,326,214,326,214,330,215,330,215,349,216 ,349,217,350,219,350,219,352,220,352,220,353,222,3 53,222,354,223,354,223,359,220,359,220,363,215,363 ,215,368,216,368,216,370,205,370,205,368,188,368,1 88,366,189,365,190,365,190,364,187,364,187,355,184 ,355,184,356,183,356,181,358,181,359,180,360,180,3 61,179,363,178,364,177,364,177,365,176,365,176,367 ,175,367,172,370,172,371,171,371,171,372,170,372,1 69,373,169,374,168,375,168,377,165,377,165,376,161 ,376,161,377,154,377,154,373,143,372,143,361,136,3 61,136,358 href="http://www.paphr.sk.ca/menu_pg.asp"><AREA shape=POLY coords=178,301,178,301,178,300,179,300,179,301><AR EA shape=POLY alt="Sun Country RHA" coords=278,514,289,514,289,510,290,510,290,511,293 ,511,293,512,298,512,300,513,300,515,307,515,308,5 20,311,520,311,522,315,522,315,523,326,523,327,526 ,328,541,329,541,329,552,330,556,331,563,323,564,3 13,564,302,565,280,565,269,566,209,566,209,558,208 ,558,208,555,217,555,217,551,220,551,220,549,222,5 50,222,549,224,549,224,544,223,544,220,533,245,533 ,245,522,267,522,278,521 href="http://www.suncountry.sk.ca/general/187/h1n1-update.html"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Saskatoon RHA" coords=213,443,213,443,213,441,214,441,214,440,213 ,440,213,434,202,434,202,440,198,440,198,436,197,4 36,197,429,185,429,185,440,181,440,181,436,174,436 ,174,425,169,425,167,426,166,428,159,428,159,424,1 55,424,155,417,156,413,155,413,155,410,159,410,159 ,397,156,397,156,396,154,394,153,394,152,393,152,3 89,156,389,156,388,163,388,163,387,167,387,167,388 ,170,388,170,386,171,385,171,384,172,383,173,383,1 73,382,174,382,174,381,177,378,178,378,178,376,179 ,376,179,375,180,375,181,374,182,372,182,371,183,3 70,183,369,185,367,186,367,186,366,189,366,189,375 ,192,375,192,376,191,376,190,377,190,379,207,379,2 07,381,212,381,212,385,219,385,219,390,230,390,230 ,396,241,396,241,407,256,407,256,410,264,410,264,4 21,257,421,257,419,256,419,256,420,253,420,253,433 ,242,433,242,435,238,435,238,434,241,434,241,432,2 39,432,239,430,237,430,237,432,234,432,234,433,231 ,433,231,444,232,444,232,447,228,447,228,449,225,4 49,225,458,222,458,222,463,221,463,219,460,218,460 ,218,459,217,459,217,458,215,456,215,455,214,454,2 14,452,213,451 href="http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/pandemic/clinics.htm"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Heartland RHA" coords=68,457,68,457,69,438,70,430,70,419,71,408,7 2,398,73,387,87,387,93,388,104,388,109,389,108,396 ,112,396,112,400,119,400,119,399,122,400,122,397,1 30,397,130,396,131,396,131,397,132,397,132,398,133 ,398,135,400,136,400,138,402,138,403,141,403,141,4 16,137,416,137,419,138,419,137,423,137,430,141,430 ,141,434,148,434,149,432,151,431,156,431,156,442,1 63,442,163,446,167,446,167,435,179,435,179,442,180 ,442,180,446,184,446,184,450,185,450,185,457,163,4 57,163,453,155,453,155,455,156,455,156,456,155,456 ,155,457,154,457,152,458,152,457,151,457,151,458,1 50,458,150,461,149,462,149,463,148,463,148,468,147 ,469,146,469,146,470,144,470,144,469,142,469,140,4 71,139,471,138,472,138,471,135,471,135,472,134,473 ,134,474,132,474,131,473,127,473,126,472,122,472,1 22,473,120,473,120,472,113,472,113,471,112,471,112 ,469,110,467,109,467,109,463,108,463,108,462,107,4 62,106,461,104,461,103,460,101,459,100,460,99,460, 98,458,97,458,96,457,93,457,92,456,91,457,85,457,8 4,458,82,459,81,458,78,458,78,457,77,458,77,457,76 ,457,76,459,74,459,73,458,71,458,71,459,69,459,69, 457 href="http://www.hrha.sk.ca/"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Cypress RHA" coords=63,554,63,554,65,532,65,521,66,507,68,488,6 9,471,70,471,70,473,72,473,72,472,74,472,75,473,77 ,473,77,471,78,471,78,472,79,471,79,472,82,472,83, 473,85,472,86,471,92,471,93,470,94,471,97,471,98,4 72,99,472,100,474,101,474,102,473,104,474,105,475, 107,475,108,476,109,476,109,477,110,477,110,481,11 1,481,113,483,113,485,114,485,114,486,121,486,121, 487,123,487,123,486,127,486,128,487,132,487,133,48 8,135,488,135,487,136,486,136,485,139,485,139,486, 140,485,141,485,143,483,145,483,145,484,147,484,14 7,483,148,483,149,482,149,489,152,489,152,514,148, 514,148,520,145,520,144,521,145,521,145,525,141,52 5,141,536,152,536,152,547,151,558,140,558,126,557, 107,557,85,556 href="http://www.cypresshealth.ca/H1N1Schedule.htm"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Kelsey Trail RHA" coords=221,377,221,377,221,373,227,373,227,371,226 ,371,226,366,231,366,231,362,234,362,234,357,235,3 57,235,356,234,356,234,357,233,357,233,356,231,356 ,231,355,230,355,230,353,228,353,227,352,226,352,2 26,333,225,333,225,329,232,329,232,303,250,303,254 ,302,254,315,258,314,291,314,295,313,307,313,307,3 17,308,317,308,320,309,327,309,331,310,331,310,346 ,311,346,312,360,313,360,313,375,314,375,315,390,2 94,390,283,391,280,391,280,398,276,398,276,406,277 ,406,277,409,273,409,273,402,265,402,265,399,250,3 99,250,388,239,388,239,382,228,382,228,377 href="http://www.kelseytrailhealth.ca/default.aspx"><AREA shape=POLY coords=106,62,106,62,106,59,107,55,107,48,108,44,1 08,33,109,29,109,18,110,15,110,11,116,11,117,12,13 1,12,132,13,150,13,151,14,177,14,178,15,253,15,255 ,14,279,14,279,17,280,18,280,40,281,40,281,61,282, 63,282,64,232,64,232,65,204,65,203,64,150,64,149,6 3,124,63,123,62 href="http://www.athabascahealth.ca/documents/H1N1Influenza3.pdf"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Keewatin Yatthe RHA" coords=183,284,164,284,164,291,149,291,135,290,135 ,271,124,270,124,267,120,267,120,270,118,270,118,2 73,115,273,115,274,106,274,106,273,97,272,95,272,9 5,271,94,271,94,270,91,270,91,268,88,268,88,266,86 ,265,86,253,87,250,87,239,88,235,88,224,89,220,89, 213,90,209,90,198,91,195,91,184,92,180,92,169,93,1 66,93,158,94,155,94,144,95,140,95,129,96,125,96,11 8,97,114,97,103,98,100,98,92,115,92,116,93,141,93, 142,94,185,94,185,127,184,168,184,170,183,171,181, 175,181,180,180,182,179,183,179,185,178,187,177,18 8,177,189,175,193,172,195,170,197,170,202,168,206, 169,206,169,207,170,208,171,208,171,216,172,217,17 1,218,171,219,170,221,170,227,169,228,169,232,164, 232,164,234,163,234,163,236,162,239,161,241,161,24 4,162,245,162,246,163,247,164,247,165,248,181,248, 183,250 href="http://www.kyrha.ca/"><AREA shape=POLY alt="Mamawetan Churchill River RHA" coords=204,83,214,83,215,84,243,84,243,83,293,83,2 93,103,294,104,294,122,295,128,295,149,296,151,296 ,172,297,173,297,194,298,194,298,209,299,208,299,2 17,300,218,300,223,301,223,301,238,302,238,302,242 ,303,243,303,252,304,252,304,253,305,267,306,277,3 06,279,294,279,290,280,257,280,253,281,253,268,249 ,269,220,269,220,288,201,288,201,287,202,273,202,2 39,200,237,184,237,183,236,182,236,181,235,181,234 ,180,233,180,230,181,228,182,225,182,223,183,223,1 83,221,188,221,188,217,189,216,189,210,190,208,190 ,207,191,206,190,205,190,197,189,197,188,196,188,1 95,187,195,189,191,189,186,191,184,194,182,196,178 ,196,177,197,176,198,174,198,172,199,171,200,169,2 00,164,202,160,203,159,203,157,204,116 href="http://www.mcrrha.sk.ca/"></MAP>

To find the health region your community is in, click here.

http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/h1n1-immunization

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

H1N1 Flu shots expanded to primary school children

Published on November 3rd, 2009

H1N1 vaccination is going to be expanded across the province later this week and next to include school age children from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

This particular age group seems to more at risk since H1N1 appeared in the spring for illness and hospitalization according to Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Moira McKinnon.

"We will continue to expand vaccinations to targeted high-risk groups as the vaccine becomes available."

Schools will be sending home consent forms for the parents to sign before their child can receive the vaccine.The vaccine will be administered in schools and clinics.

So far health care workers, people in remote and isolated communities, children from six months to under five years of age, pregnant women and women post-partum up to four weeks are presently eligible to receive the vaccine.

The Regional Health Authority's (RHA) reports that approximately 172,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed.

Parents are asked to read the consent forms carefully when they receive them. The forms will be sent out starting as early as November 3.

For information on clinics, click on to www.healthlineonline.ca or call the HealthLine at 1-877-800-0002.

http://www.swbooster.com/News/2009-11-03/article-177040/H1N1_Flu_shots_expanded_to_primary_school_children/1

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Next week's vaccination locations


Published on November 6th, 2009
<DT class=vcard>Lyndsay McCready
Times-Herald<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> printAdTag('300x250','','');</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=javascript1.1 src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/tc.sk/news;ss=local;atitle=2009-11-06;pg=content;pos=but1;tile=2;sz=300x250;ord=12577 12277474?"></SCRIPT>



<DT class=vcard>There will be two H1N1 vaccination clinics next week.

<DT class=vcard>One will be located at Riverview Collegiate and the other at the Salvation Army Church, located at 2 Wintergreen Dr.

Grace Hayward, regional director of public health in Moose Jaw, said both of the clinics will be open Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 12:30 - 7:15 p.m..

Hayward said the region is still focusing on high risk groups, which now includes children in kindergarten to Grade 6.

She said the vaccination sequence still also includes; children six-months to 59-months-old, pregnant women who are more than 20 weeks gestation, pregnant women who are less then 20 weeks but considered a high risk case, and women who are four weeks postpartum or 28 days after having given birth.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/News/Local/2009-11-06/article-187152/Next-weeks-vaccination-locations/1

</DT>

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Mass flu shot clinics start Nov. 23

Last Updated: Thursday, November 19, 2009 | 3:27 PM CT

CBC News

Saskatchewan says it will open vaccination clinics to everyone, starting next Monday. (CBC)


Everyone in Saskatchewan will be able to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu, starting Nov. 23.

The province announced Thursday that all health regions are planning clinics to open to the general public early in the week, beginning Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

"Please remember these clinics will be open through to mid-December," Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's deputy chief medical health officer, said in the announcement. "So there is plenty of time for people to get their vaccination."

The provincial health ministry said it was expecting delivery Monday of 66,500 doses of H1N1 vaccine.

Including those, the province said a total of 386,900 doses will have been received.

When the latest batch of vaccine is used, it will mean approximately 40 per cent of Saskatchewan's population will have been vaccinated.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/11/19/sk-flu-mass-clinics.html?ref=rss

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Monday, November 23

Full Access to H1N1 Vaccine Begins Today Across Saskatchewan

As an additional 66,500 doses of the H1N1 Vaccine arrives in the Province this week, Vaccination Clinics will be opened to the entire population of Saskatchewan. As of this week, 386 900 doses of the H1N1 Vaccine will have been delivered to the
Province of Saskatchewan. Once all of this vaccine has been administered, approximately 40 percent of the Saskatchewan population will have been vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza.

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle></TD><TD vAlign=top>Trent Regier, Director of Population Health for the Cypress Health Region notes expanded H1N1clinics will rotate across the Southwest corner of the Province. Full schedules will be available online at www.southwesttvnews.com

http://www.southwesttvnews.com/news/full_access_to_h1n1_vaccine_begins_today_across_saskatchewan__article_5651.html

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Queue jumping for H1N1 vaccine not occurring in Saskatchewan: Dr. Shabab

By Anne Kyle, Leader-Post
December 7, 2009 10:07 AM

REGINA ? Provincial health officials reassured the public Wednesday that nobody was jumping the queue when it comes to accessing the H1N1 vaccine.

?The pandemic vaccine is not being provided to private companies, it is only being provided to public health. There may be instances where the seasonal flu vaccine may be available through other health-care providers, but the pandemic vaccine is only being delivered by public health,? the province?s deputy chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shabab told reporters.

Shabab was responding to questions related to a news story that more than 100 businesses in Saskatoon and Regina ? including a number of provincial Crown corporations ? have hired a private company to vaccinate employees and their families for the H1N1 virus.

The story quoted the CEO and president of Saskatoon-based HealthServ, as saying the Saskatoon and Regina health regions have agreed to provide thousands of doses of H1N1 vaccine to the company, which will send private nurses to administer the vaccine in large corporate workplaces.

?As far as the pandemic planning, once the vaccine is available for everyone who does not have risk factors, like underlying health conditions ? at that time and that time has not come yet ? there may be a role for organizations who give seasonal vaccinations to employees in large corporations to also play a role in giving the pandemic vaccine,?? Shabab said.

?Even if it was to happen, it would not happen in a way that encourages queue jumping.??

He also assured reporters that large employers would not get the H1N1 vaccine early.

As we head into what is traditionally the peak flu season over the next six to 12 weeks, Shabab urged everyone to take responsibility for protecting their own health.

?What we are seeing is that, in Saskatchewan, we are somewhat behind what is happening in Western Canada, and B.C. But certainly we are well on our way to seeing an increase in pandemic H1N1 activity. We are very much at the upsurge of the second wave. On a week-by-week basis, we are seeing increased numbers of mild illness in otherwise well people, including schoolchildren,?? Shabab said.

He urged people to stay home if they are sick, educate themselves about the symptoms of H1N1 and when to seek medical advise or go to the hospital emergency department.

Shabab also suggested that rather than overwhelm the HealthLine (1-877-800-0002) with queries about H1N1 vaccinations, individuals check their health region?s website for clinic information.

http://www.canada.com/health/Queue+jumping+H1N1+vaccine+occurring+Saskatchewan+Shabab/2183627/story.html

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<DD class="date published">Published on December 30th, 2009 </DD><DD class="date display_none"><DT class=vcard>Carter Haydu
Times-Herald<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> printAdTag('300x250','','');</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=javascript1.1 src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/tc.sk/news;ss=local;atitle=2009-12-30;pg=content;pos=but1;tile=2;sz=300x250;ord=12621 96262511?"></SCRIPT>


<DT class=vcard>There is still plenty of H1N1 vaccination available in the Five Hills Health region and Public Health encourages anyone who hasn?t received a shot yet to do so.

Grace Hayward, regional director of Public Health in Moose Jaw, told the Times-Herald there are about 6,270 adjuvanted H1N1 vaccines currently available locally and the health region is holding clinics at the 107-110 Ominica St. W. Public Health office on Jan. 4, 15 and 25.

?I really strongly encourage people to protect themselves by getting the H1N1 vaccine,? she said on Wednesday, adding (as of Dec. 18) 41.5 per cent of the health region?s population has been vaccinated, although she would like to see local figures reflecting 50 to 55 per cent vaccination.

?So we encourage people to come out.?

According to Hayward, the more people in a community who receive vaccination against the pandemic flu, the more protection there is for everyone in the community as a whole.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/News/Local/2009-12-30/article-321574/More-H1N1-clinics-planned-for-January/1

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Re: Saskatchewan - Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

H1N1 vaccination rate among young Saskatchewan men at 22 per cent

By Pamela Cowan, Leader-PostJanuary 14, 2010 4:54 PM



Saskatchewan Provincial Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Moira McKinnon speaks at a news conference in Regina Thursday encouraging young adult males to have their H1N1 pandemic vaccination. To help get the message out McKinnon enlisted the aid WHL Regina Pats hockey players ? Matt Strueby (left), Colten Teubert and Garrett Mitchell ? who received their shots earlier last year.

Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post

REGINA ? Wanted: young men to ante up their arms for H1N1 shots.
As of Tuesday, almost 46 per cent or 111,300 residents in the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region received H1N1 vaccinations over the past nine weeks. About the same number of males and females were vaccinated in age groups under 20.

But it's a different story in the 20 to 34-year-old category.
In that age group, 9,485 women were immunized compared to 5,512 men. In the 35 to 64-year-old category, 23,292 women received the H1N1 shot compared to 17,697 men. In the 65-plus category, 10,610 women were vaccinated compared to 8,159 men.

"We encourage anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to make an appointment as vaccinations will still be available through the end of March," said Dr. Maurice Hennink, deputy medical health officer with the RQHR.

In particular, he urged young men to be vaccinated.

"The younger folks are the ones who have been more affected by the H1N1 disease," Hennink said. "It's a good idea to protect yourself by getting immunized and, in doing so, you're protecting the health of your family, friends and co-workers."

He said health officials are keeping a close eye out for signs of a third wave of illness.

"The third wave of illness that we could potentially be seeing in the winter months would probably be a mixture of the H1N1 virus and the common winter viruses that we typically see at this time of year," Hennink said.

"We ask that the general public to continue to be watchful, wash their hands on a regular basis and stay home if you're ill."

The region continues to calculate the cost of the H1N1 pandemic.

"I don't have that figure at this time," Hennink said.

He expressed his gratitude to the staff and volunteers who participated in the largest vaccination effort the region has ever undertaken.

The region's immunization campaign involved:

* More than a dozen Regina sites including schools, post-secondary institutions, physician offices, long-term care facilities, personal care homes, community centres, clinics and agencies such as Carmichael Outreach;

* Clinics were held in 16 rural communities;

* 175 nurses vaccinated residents;

* 23 RQHR security officers were at the former Robert Usher Collegiate site providing 1,117 hours of time including assisting the public at the mass immunization clinic;

* 34 RQHR clerical staff registered people at the clinics while another 11 inputted all of the immunization information into computer databases;

* In Regina, 212 volunteers contributed 2,395 hours of time in assisting people at the immunization clinics;

* In the western part of the region, which includes Fort Qu'Appelle, Balcarres and Lestock, 28 volunteers assisted at community vaccination clinics.

The region's mass immunization campaign is over, but appointments are available at the public health offices in north and east Regina.

Vaccinations will be offered at the north office, 204 Wascana St., on Tuesdays only. Those wishing to get the H1N1 shot in east Regina can do so at 1911 Park St. on Wednesdays only. To make an appointment, call 766-7700.

Residents in other areas of Saskatchewan can check their health region's website for immunization information, phone their public health office or call HealthLine at 1-877-800-0002.

http://www.leaderpost.com/health/H1N1+vaccination+rate+among+young+Saskatchewan+cent/2441752/H1N1+vaccination+rate+among+young+Saskatchewan+cent/2441450/story.html