Seasonal Flu Vaccines Now Available for the General Population

The seasonal flu immunization program has recently been expanded to the general population. The vaccine is now available through family physicians, community health centres, long-term care homes and participating workplaces throughout the region, and is free of charge. Since October, the vaccine has been available for people age 65 and over as well as residents of long-term care homes, but is now being offered to everyone aged 6 months and older.

In January, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit will also begin holding mass seasonal flu immunization clinics throughout the five Eastern Counties. Community clinic dates, times and locations can be found on the Health Unit’s website at www.eohu.ca.

“At this time, we’re not seeing any seasonal flu activity in Ontario, but we can’t be sure that we won’t start seeing activity over the next few months,” states Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health. Flu season typically runs between October and April. “I encourage everyone to get both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 flu shot to protect themselves from illness and prevent the spread of flu in their families and communities.” Dr. Paul adds that the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine can be given at the same time. No waiting period is required between the two shots.

The H1N1 vaccine continues to be available through participating physicians, the Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie, and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (by appointment only).

For more information about the January community clinics for the seasonal flu vaccine, visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s website at www.eohu.ca.  To book an appointment for the H1N1 vaccine at the Health Unit, call 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120, and ask for the Health Line.

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