Influenza Self-Assessment Tools

Use this online tool to help you determine if you or your child has influenza and who you should contact.

Fact Sheets

What to Do When Your Child is Sick with Influenza

What to Do When You Have the Flu: A Guide for Adults

Pregnant Women & the H1N1 Flu Virus

Do you think you have Influenza?

H1N1 Clinic Flyer for Posting

H1N1 Priority Groups Listing
 

What should I expect at a Priority Group Clinic?

Eligibility Forms:

• Eligibility forms are used to determine if you fit into the priority group
   
• Eligibility forms can only be completed at clinics. They are not available online
   
• When you arrive at the clinic, you will receive a numbered eligibility form
  Complete one form per person to be immunized
   
• You can pick up a form for other household members that fit into a priority group who are unable to wait in line
   
• You will be given instructions at the clinic regarding the number on the eligibility form

• If you send your child to the clinic with another adult, sign this
  consent form and send it to the clinic.
   

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.
 

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.
 

When Can Seniors 65+ get the H1N1 Vaccine?

According to the Ministry of Health, those 65 and over are at a much greater risk of becoming ill with seasonal influenza than with H1N1 influenza. Evidence is showing that in general, those 65 and over have built up an immunity to H1N1-possibly because they have been exposed to a similar virus earlier in their lives. It is therefore recommended that those 65 and over get the seasonal influenza vaccine as soon as possible and the H1N1 influenza vaccine once it is available to this age group (sometime in November). The Ministry’s vaccination program has been set up this way to best protect everyone.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/h1n1/public/seniors.aspx

What can snowbirds do about getting the H1N1 shot before travelling south for the winter?

Adults who were born before the year 1957 are at lower risk of contracting the H1N1 virus. There is evidence to suggest that this age group has been exposed to viruses in their lifetime that are similar to the H1N1. Therefore they may have antibodies that are protecting them from coming down with this H1N1 influenza. However, there is always the potential for infection and the Canadian government is offering all Canadians the vaccine if they want it. Due to limited supply of vaccine, the current recommendation is to offer those people who are considered at risk (such as health care workers, individuals under 65 years of age with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, very young children, household contacts of infants less than 6 months and persons who have weakened immune systems) in the first round of shots. When this group has been immunized, the rest of the population, including the snowbirds, will be offered the vaccine. We do not know at this point when enough vaccine will be available and can not guarantee that it will be available before your trip. Please keep checking the Health Unit web site for up-to-date information about our clinics.

Are seniors able to get the seasonal flu shot at this time?

Yes.

The family doctors have seasonal influenza vaccine. This is the recommended vaccine for all adults over the age of 65 years.

Speak to your health care provider if you missed the earlier clinics and wish to be protected from seasonal flu.

Why isn’t this Health Unit vaccinating children 5-18 in the first priority groups?

We are immunizing priority groups according to instructions from the MOHLTC and as advised by the PHAC. These priority groups were developed by an expert scientific group based on evidence collected during the spring H1N1 outbreak in Canada and the winter H1N1 outbreak in the Southern Hemisphere. We believe that we should base our decisions on evidence and decisions of expert groups who have had ample time to study the evidence and provide their advice. It is regrettable that two school aged children have died already in this second wave of H1N1. These events are tragic. However, they do not alter the epidemiology of this outbreak that identifies school age children at low (but not zero) risk of complications and death due to H1N1 while other groups such as pregnant women and children under 5 years of age are at much higher risk. Our vaccine supply is very limited. We wish to give this limited supply to those who can benefit most from it rather than divert it to those who are known to benefit less.

How many doses of H1N1 vaccine should children 9 years of age and under be receiving?

Currently, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that children from six months to nine years old receive two half-doses of the H1N1 adjuvanted vaccine administered at least 21 days apart. Children 10 years and older should receive one full dose of the H1N1 adjuvanted vaccine.

Why can’t children 9 years of age and under get one full dose?

The manufacturer has recommended two half doses for children from 6 months to 9 years of age based on the results of clinical trials studying children’s response to this and other similar vaccines such as the seasonal flu vaccine. These trials show that children do not respond to the vaccine as well as adults and require 2 doses to get full protection. Giving more vaccine at the first dose results in more adverse reactions without removing the necessity of giving the second dose to get full protection.
 

Will schools be closed to control the spread of H1N1?

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC), and the Health Unit are not recommending school closures at this time. PHAC states that widespread proactive closure of schools may not be effective in preventing the transmission of H1N1, and the benefits of keeping schools open currently outweighs the risk of transmission in these settings. This recommendation will be reviewed based on the situation in Canada, Ontario and locally.

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is monitoring school absenteeism and is frequently communicating with schools and school boards to ensure safe environments for students and staff. In the event that a school’s absenteeism rate is unusually high, and school closure is being considered, the Health Unit and the school board would consult prior to deciding the best option for that school.
 

• Q & A for Schools

• Avoiding the Spread of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

• Hand Hygiene Presentation for Schools (2.6 mg)

• Why Don't We Do It In Our Sleeves? (video)

• Cover your Cough Poster (for kids)

• If you are Sick Poster (for kids)

• Be a Germ Stopper! Teacher resource manual to promote hand hygiene - Region of Peel

• Posters

• Fact Sheets