H1N1 Pandemic Flu

Ryerson H1N1 Flu Update No. 9
H1N1 Drop In Vaccination Clinic - Dec. 4

On Friday, December 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Ryerson Medical Centre will be holding the last H1N1 Drop In Vaccination Clinic. The clinic, which will be held in the lobby of the Ryerson Student Campus Centre, 55 Gould St., is open to everyone. No appointment is required.

What to bring

1.  Health Card (required)
2. Completed Registration/Consent Form 

Anyone wishing to receive H1N1 immunization after December 4 should call the Ryerson Medical Centre to book an appointment.

H1N1 Vaccination Clinics at Ryerson University
FAQ

Why Two Flu Vaccines?
This year, two vaccines have been developed - one for seasonal flu and the other for H1N1 flu.  The pandemic H1N1 flu virus is the dominant strain of influenza. For the majority of the population H1N1 is the virus they need to be protected against.

What’s the difference between the H1N1 flu vaccine and the regular flu vaccine?
The H1N1 vaccine will protect you against the H1N1 flu virus. The regular flu vaccine will be very similar to last year’s flu vaccine. It is designed to protect you against the three strains of seasonal flu that are estimated to be the most likely to circulate this winter.

Do I need to get both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine?
Seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against H1N1. With two types of flu viruses circulating, it is recommended that people get vaccinated against seasonal and H1N1 flu.

Who should get the H1N1 flu vaccine?
Everyone should get the H1N1 flu shot.  Some people have special risk factors or existing medical problems conditions that might lead to a more severe response to the H1N1 flu virus.    These risk factors or existing conditions include but are not limited to:

• Pregnancy
• Heart disease
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• People with a suppressed immune system
• If you have pre-existing conditions or special risk factors and you come down with symptoms of the flu you should immediately contact a health care professional.

Should pregnant women receive the H1N1 flu vaccine?
Health Canada strongly recommends that pregnant women be vaccinated against H1N1.  Pregnant women are not “more” likely to get the H1N1 flu virus; however, they might have a more harsh reaction to the illness, which might be very harmful to them and their baby.  Should a pregnant woman experience signs and symptoms of the flu she should contact a health provider immediately, as early treatment can lessen the severity of the disease.

Where do I go for my shot?
Pending the arrival of the H1N1 flu vaccine, the Ryerson Medical Centre (KHW-181) will be offering H1N1 flu vaccination clinics by appointment for four weeks starting Monday, November 9.  The clinics will be held Monday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 1:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. On November 9 priority will be given to staff designated in the Ryerson University Flu Pandemic Plan as essential services. Booking of appointments will begin on Monday November 2. 

Satellite clinics will be held at key locations across campus on Wednesdays. You can find out more information on vaccination clinic locations and times in upcoming editions of Ryerson Today and by visiting the Ryerson Medical Centre website or the Ryerson University H1N1 Pandemic website.

Toronto Public Health will also be offering public H1N1 vaccination clinics for the general public beginning November 2 which will operate for approximately six weeks. The closest Toronto Public Health H1N1 vaccination clinic to the Ryerson campus will be held in the Rotunda of Metro Hall at 55 John Street.  For an update on Toronto Public Health H1N1 vaccination clinic locations and hours visit http://www.toronto.ca/health/cdc/h1n1/clinics.htm

H1N1 shots are also available through some physicians’ offices. Check with your doctor or community health clinic.

I’ve heard that getting the seasonal flu vaccine will make it easier for me to catch the H1N1 flu.
For younger people, some studies have shown that getting a seasonal flu shot can increase the risk of getting H1N1. So, for this group it’s recommended that they get the H1N1 vaccine first.  For people 65 and older, it’s more important to get the seasonal flu shot first because they have some natural immunity to H1N1 probably as a result of residual immunity from exposure to H1N1 prior to 1957.

Is the vaccine safe for everyone?

• Flu vaccines are safe; they will not give you the flu. The vaccine is made in a way that makes this impossible. Vaccines produce immunity to specific diseases by stimulating the production of antibodies.
• Adverse affects from vaccines are extremely rare. Sometimes people will have soreness in the muscle near the spot where they were injected.

- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 8
- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 7
- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 6
- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 5
- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 4
- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 3
- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 2
- Ryerson University H1N1 Flu Update No. 1