H1N1 Flu Virus

H1N1 Vaccine Update - November 20, 2009

Effective today, all British Columbians are eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority is holding vaccination clinics in Campbell River at the Health Unit.

For more information on vaccination clinic dates, call the Campbell River FLU hotline at (250) 850-2120.

Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 (24 hours a day/seven days a week) to speak to a nurse if you have more questions or are concerned about any illness/symptoms experienced by you or your children.

With regard to schools, provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall has stated that it is unlikely that schools will close as a result of H1N1. "We don't expect that individual school closures, community-wide closures or province-wide closures will be useful in controlling the spread and impact of the H1N1 flu virus," said Dr. Kendall in a press release issued by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport on August 24, 2009. "Closures early last spring were initiated out of an abundance of caution because we had very little information on the novel flu virus at that time. It has since become apparent that the disease caused by this virus is generally mild and does not warrant such severe measures."

Here are six simple, common sense precautions that can help safeguard everyone’s health:

1. Stay home when you’re sick or have influenza symptoms. Get plenty of rest and check with a health care provider as needed.
2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.
3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away immediately. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4. Wash your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from getting sick. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can become ill by touching a surface contaminated with germs and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, and avoid smoking, which may increase the risk of serious consequences if you do contract the flu.

If you have a fever or cough illness, regardless of where you have travelled, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. See a health care provider if your symptoms become worse but call ahead of time to let them know you have fever or cough illness.

For more steps on how to protect you and your family visit FightFlu.ca