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The first round of mass vaccinations to protect against influenza A (H1N1) is now underway with health workers, those on the front lines of helping the general population, getting their vaccinations.
Monday 1,147 members of the CHUS (Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke) community rolled up their sleeves between 1 and 6 p.m. Of the CHUS 5,800 employees and 580 physicians, 730 individuals were vaccinated at its Fleurimont location and 417 at the Hotel-Dieu location.
The event exceeded the CHUS original estimated immunization capacity of 180 vaccines given per hour with 100 vaccines per hour given at Fleurimont and 80 vaccines per hour at the Hotel-Dieu
Vaccinations will continue October 27,28,29 and November 2 and 3 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
For the general population vaccinations are free, voluntary and offered in a priority sequence and it is important to respect the succession. Consult the below list to find the closest vaccination clinic in your region as listed by each region’s Centre de santé et de services sociaux (CSSS).
Priority is given to individuals who are at risk of developing complications from the disease. This includes chronically ill persons under age 65 (especially those with chronic heart or lung diseases and those with diabetes), children aged 6 months to 5 years, persons living in outlying or isolated locations or communities and pregnant women.
Caregivers for at risk individuals or households can also be vaccinated at the same time, according to Quebec’s Pandemic website.
This includes health-care workers as well as those living with infants under six months who cannot be vaccinated and immunocompromised persons, because the vaccine could be less effective for them.
Information about influenza A(H1N1) can be found on Quebec’s Pandemic website at www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca or at vaccination.msss.gouv.qc.ca. Question related to the virus and vaccinations can be directed to Services Québec from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily by calling toll free 1-877-644-4545. The deaf and hearing impaired can call 1-800-361-9596 toll free.By Corrinna Pole 2009-10-29 |
Montreal Canadiens
