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London, Ontario's Online News Source"If you're on...you're in!" |
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14,000 vaccinated in first H1N1 clinics as number of cases rise
Presently, there are six remaining clinics scheduled, targeting only high-risk individuals (see link below for dates and times), but officials are hoping to expand future vaccination clinics to the general public. "We hope to expand our clinics in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Additional information on clinic expansion will be made available shortly," officials said. Meanwhile, cases of H1N1 continue to rise and remain widespread across the region. Between Oct. 26 and 30, the health unit received reports of 73 new laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza, both Pandemic (H1N1) influenza and influenza A, which is quite likely to be the Pandemic (H1N1) strain. But again, officials said the number of people in the community who have influenza is likely considerably higher than indicated by laboratory-confirmed cases, since most people with influenza do not need to see their health care provider, and for most people testing is not recommended. Since the last health unit update, 25 people with laboratory-confirmed H1N1 infection were admitted to hospital. Across the province, 31.7 per cent of all nose samples taken in people with respiratory illness came back positive for the H1N1 strain, although testing was pending on several samples. In contrast, the percentage in the London region was considerably higher at 57.9 per cent and both provincial and London percentages are higher than in the previous week. "The higher rates in Middlesex-London compared to Ontario as a whole are likely due to fact that influenza activity in our area appears to have started earlier than in most other areas of the province," health officials said. The proportion of patients visiting emergency rooms due to symptoms of fever and respiratory illness also continues to rise. On average, 36.8 per cent of patients visiting London emergency departments during the week of October 25 and 31 had fever and respiratory symptoms. The increase is particularly evident at the paediatric emergency room, where the weekly average of patients with fever and respiratory symptoms was 63.7 per cent. This week, the health unit began monitoring two additional indicators of influenza-like illness in the community. A large community employer has begun participating as a sentinel site for staff absenteeism. As of October 22, the proportion of staff absent due to illness was relatively low and comparable to the preceding three weeks. An X-ray provider is also participating as a sentinel site for new diagnoses of bronchopneumonia, which is a complication of influenza infection. Although only three days of results were initially available, diagnoses of bronchopneumonia were made in 12.9 per cent to 15.5 per cent of all chest X-rays performed, well above the norm of only 1 to 2 per cent of chest X-rays revealing bronchopneumonia. It is very important to note that the remaining six clinics are only for the following high risk groups: • Individuals under the age of 65 who: - have underlying medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, cancer, kidney disease, problems with their immune system, blood problems, nervous system problems, very overweight); - are household members of children under the age of six (6) months; - are household members of people who have problems with their immune system (such as cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS, transplant patients, kidney dialysis, taking long term steroids or some other drugs); • Children between six (6) months and less than five (5) years of age; • Health care workers; • Pregnant women (see below). "We are expecting to receive a supply of the unadjuvanted vaccine this week, so pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy can be vaccinated with this product," health officials said. Some things to consider for those attending our clinics are as follows: • Bring your health card or drivers license; • Wear a short-sleeved shirt; • Don't skip a meal before attending; • Consider coming later in the clinic as the clinics tend to be very busy at the beginning; • Come dressed for the weather in case the line extends outside; • Bring something for the kids to play with and eat in case there is a line; • If the line is long, consider having one adult wait in the line; that person can call the kids or more vulnerable person to come when they are approaching the vaccination area. In addition to vaccination clinics, the H1N1 vaccine has been distributed to some doctor's offices for their patients who meet the high risk criteria outlined above, hospitals for their staff members and some of their patients, and to long term care facilities for some of their staff members. WEB: MLHU -- Pandemic H1N1 Influenza information |
| I think you should have a holiday or an alert and close the schools. Where is one of the main place(s) for children to develope or catch the N1H1. My son is four years old, he's my world! If parents hold the kids or pulls them out. They will most likly fall behind :( |
| By: quintina Hurst on 11/04/2009 |
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