H1N1: General public next in line for flu shot

H1N1 flu vaccination sites for the general public will open across Toronto on Monday, and in the wake of two recent, highly-publicized flu deaths, health care workers are bracing for heavy response.

Health care workers started lining up this week as part of the first wave of those getting the vaccine in Toronto. Starting Nov. 2, those considered ‘at-risk’ and the general public will able to roll-up their sleeves as well.

According to the Ontario Government’s flu vaccine strategy website, those who are considered at-risk are people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, children from six months to five years, people who live in remote regions of the province and healthcare workers, including those who work in close contact with people whose medical conditions render the vaccine unresponsive.

Rishna Govani  of Toronto Public Health told the Toronto Observer there is no way to predict how many city residents will show up to receive the vaccine but she said they will adjust the amount of staff that will be administering the vaccine to meet the public demand.

“We can hire more nurses and more staff if the demand is high, however we do not know as of yet how many people will turn up so we will be playing it by ear so to speak.”

Vaccination sites will open to the public starting at 1:00pm at the following sites:

  • Metro Hall – Rotunda 55 John Street
  • East York Civic Centre – Lower Level 850 Coxwell Avenue
  • North York Civic Centre – Members Lounge 5100 Yonge Street
  • North Toronto Memorial Community Centre 200 Eglinton Avenue West
  • Etobicoke Civic Centre – Committee rooms 1, 2, 3 399 The West Mall
  • Melody Public School – Gym (closed school) 24 Strathburn Blvd. (closed school) Masaryk-Cowan Community Recreation Centre 220 Cowan Avenue
  • Scarborough Civic Centre – Rotunda 150 Borough Drive
  • North Kipling Community Centre 2 Rowntree Road
  • Timothy Eaton Business and Technical Institute – Cafeteria 1251 Bridletowne Circle (closed school)

For more information regarding the H1N1 pandemic, or regarding the vaccination sites around the city, visit www.toronto.ca/health.

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Posted: Oct 29 2009 6:29 am
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