Questions:
Answers:
How Can I get Information About Influenza by Phone?
- Call the Health Unit @ 1-800-660-5853 if you have questions about seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. Lines are open 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
- Call Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000) if you or a family member is sick and you have questions.
- Call your Health Care Provider if you have influenza-like symptoms and you are pregnant, have underlying medical conditions, are over 65 or under 5 years of age. You may need to book an appointment quickly to receive treatment.
- Only go to the Emergency Department if your illness is severe or worsening; such as having difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, continuous vomiting or severe diarrhea with signs of dehydration, confusion, seizures, or extreme lack of energy.
How have the Health Unit Services been affected by the H1N1 Pandemic?
All Health Unit services have now been resumed. For information on groups in Lanark County, please call the Smiths Falls office at 613-283-2740. For information on groups in Leeds and Grenville, please call the Brockville office at 613-345-5685. Clients with individual questions or issues can call 1-800-660-5853 to talk to a Public Health Nurse from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Is the H1N1 Vaccine Safe?
The H1N1 vaccine has been developed according to the strictest standards and has successfully passed through the rigorous process used by Health Canada to evaluate vaccines for approval. It is now being evaluated as it is being administered to Canadians through a very carefully designed surveillance system that detects adverse events following immunization. To date, the vaccine has been given to 6.6 million Canadians and only 36 cases of serious reactions have been identified. This is a remarkable safety record. As with all vaccines, very rarely serious adverse events occur. When this rate of serious reactions is weighed against the 200 deaths (37 in the last week) that have been caused by the H1N1 virus so far in Canada, the risk of serious adverse reactions appears to be very small.
How long will it take after I receive the vaccine to have immunity against the virus?
After receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine, most people will start to develop immunity within 10 days with just one dose.
Why are pregnant women now being encouraged to get the unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine? Is there something wrong with the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women?
In October, many pregnant women received the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine. Since the H1N1 influenza virus was already widely circulating, and unadjuvanted vaccine was not available, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recommended that women more than 20 weeks pregnant and pregnant women with underlying medical conditions receive the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine to provide protection quickly.
Based on evidence, Canadian experts say that both the adjuvanted and unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccines are safe for pregnant women. Pregnant women will also be adequately protected from H1N1 influenza if they receive one dose of unadjuvanted or adjuvanted vaccine.
As the unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine is now available, the Public Health Agency Canada recommends that pregnant women at any stage of their pregnancy get the unadjuvanted vaccine. This vaccine is preferred because there is less safety data available on adjuvanted vaccine use during pregnancy.
How Will I Feel After I Receive my H1N1 Vaccine?
After you have received the H1N1 Vaccine it is normal to experience:
- Pain and swelling where the injection was given,
- Tiredness, muscle and joint pain, and headaches.
- Children may have a mild fever, be tired and irritable and not want to eat.
As with the seasonal influenza vaccine, it is expected that most side effects will be mild, will not last long and will go away on their own.
Abnormal or adverse side effects from the H1N1 vaccine may include:
- Hives
- Swelling of the mouth or throat
- Trouble breathing, hoarseness or wheezing
- Paleness, weakness, dizziness
- Red eyes, respiratory symptoms, facial swelling or a combination of these within 24 hours of receiving vaccine and lasting 48 hours.
Seek medical attention (from your health care provider or the nearest hospital) immediately if any of these ABNORMAL symptoms happen within three days after your vaccination.
Can an individual have the H1N1 influenza vaccine if they are currently taking an anti-viral drug (i.e. Tamiflu)?
The H1N1 influenza vaccine can be given to individuals who are taking anti-viral drugs. However, individuals should be well before receiving the H1N1 influenza vaccine (ie: mild fever or fever absent for 24 hours without the use of over-the-counter medications and the person is feeling well enough to resume normal activities). Individuals can receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine if they have a mild cough with no other symptoms.
For individuals planning to attend a public clinic, the Health Unit asks that only those who have been fever free for 24 hrs attend to avoid spreading an infection to others at the clinic. If you still have a fever but wish to be immunized, please contact your primary care provider.
How many doses of H1N1 vaccine should children 9 years of age and under be receiving?
All children between 6 months of age and under 3 years of age and children between 3 and 9 years of age with chronic health conditions should receive two half-doses of adjuvanted H1N1 flu vaccine, given at least 21 days apart. Guidance for children in this age group is unchanged. Please note that there is no rush for these children to receive their second dose as almost all are protected by the first dose. The second dose is to lengthen protection.
Healthy children between 3 and 9 years of age should only receive a single half-dose of the H1N1 vaccine, and do not need to return for a second dose for now.
Are seniors able to get the seasonal flu shot at this time?
Yes.
Family doctors have the seasonal influenza vaccine. Seniors are able to get the shot at their doctor’s office if they missed the earlier clinics. As well, seasonal flu shots are now available at public clinics organized by the Health Unit for the month of January. Check the front page of this web site and your local newspaper for the date and time of a clinic in your area.
If I have already had the H1N1 Influenza shot, why is it important for me to get the seasonal influenza shot?
Everyone over six months of age is encouraged to get the BOTH pandemic H1N1 AND seasonal flu shots to protect themselves from illness and prevent spread of influenza in the community. Seasonal influenza viruses are present in the environment and are most prevalent during the fall and winter months. The viruses have the capability to change slightly from year to year so we need to be vaccinated every year. The H1N1 vaccine does not protect you from seasonal flu. Although there is no seasonal flu in Ontario at this time, it is possible that it may reappear this flu season. Seasonal influenza remains a serious, contagious and potentially deadly disease. Those at high risk include the elderly, the very young, and those with underlying health conditions that affect their immune systems. Flu season continues until Spring. It’s important to protect ourselves and those close to us by getting our flu shot.
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