Lucknow Sentinel, 2009-09-09, Page 9Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - Page 9
H1N1 flu virus health clinics to be held in fall
BY SUSAN
HUNDERMARK
Huron Expositor
As local health-
care professionals
prepare for the
expected H1N1
pandemic this fall,
the Huron County
Health Unit is plan-
ning two rounds of
flu clinics.
"Thisis a different
flu season with two
different shots for
different kinds of
flu. This season
more than ever, it's
important to get a
flu shot," said Huron
County's medical
officer of health, Dr.
Nancy Cameron.
The first flu clin-
ics will start in mid-
October for the
annual seasonal
influenza shot and
the second would
likely start just
before Christmas for
the H1N1 vaccine,
says Cameron.
And, since two
shots will likely be
necessary for H1N1,
Cameron says the
H1N1 clinics will
probably be held
before tom, and after
Christmas.
Cameron says the
health unit and local
healthcare profes-
sionals have been
busy all summer
with pandemic plan-
ning.
g
She says the
health unit will be
meeting with local
school boards soon
discussing, .:ways to
encourage more
infection control.
"We'll be dis-
cussing how impor-
tant it is to be wash-
ing hands more and
coughing and sneez-
ing into our sleeves,
asking the school
boards to possibly
put more of that
information into the
curriculum," she
says, adding that
posters will be
offeredto reinforce
the message.
M well, she says
school boards will
be asked if it's possi-
ble : to enhance sur-
veillance in the
schools, providing
information on the
numbers of students
absent and what
their symptoms
include.. Currently,
schools report to the
health unit if more
than 10 per cent of
the school popula-
tion is absent.
With weekly tele-
conferences with the
Ministry of Health
around the H1N1
pandemic, Cameron
says the federal gov-
ernment has ordered
vaccines and the
province has
ordered a supply for
county health units.
Still undecided
are the priority
groups fir the H1N1
vaccine but
Cameron expects
they will include
younger people who.
have no immunity to
the virus and people
with underlying
medical conditions.
"It may not be
older people
because they seem
to have immunity
based on earlier out-
breaks in 1957 of a
similar virus," she
said.
Cameron says
health officials are
closely watching the
southern hemi-
sphere and Australia
in particular as they
go through their
winter flu season
right now and are
encouraged . that
while H1N1 is the
p edo nt flu
strain being seen,
the cases are rela-
tively mild:
"Maybe 20 per
cent of the people
have been ill, much
less than the 30-35
per cent that has
been predicted dur-
ing . pandemic plan-
ning for the lalt sev-
eral years," she says.
"Hopefully, we have
the same thing here.
But, we're certainly
continuing planning
and we are pre-
pared," she said.
Cameron says
local hospitals are
also developing
their pandemic
plans and are in con-
stant communica-
tion with the health
unit.
"We don't want to
be caught off
guard,"
she said.
Cameron says
she's hoping to see a
resurgence of inter-
est in the flu shot
this year,h for
theseasonal influen-
za and the H1N1
vaccines.
IN MEMORY
TASHA
Feb. 4, 1997 - Sept . 2, 2009
You were,never ungrateful or treacherous. You
didn't know evil or jealousy or discontent. You
only asked for a little food, your water bowl and
the nearness of your family.
In return, you gave unconditional love.
We miss the waging little tail;
We miss the plaintive, pleading wail;
We miss the wistful, loving glance;
We miss the circling dance.
We will miss you Tasha.
and Win
LUCKN4W FALL FAIR
SEPTEMBER 18, 19AND 20
`Subs fitted photo
Brittany Fry , is served a
Heather McKee and Fran
McQuail's Heirloom
Tomatoes with C'est Bon
Goat's Milk Feta from St.
Mary's and : cold pressed
Pristine Gourmet Canola
Oil salad by Melina Powers
at the Taste of Huron Gala .
dinner. Attendees where
served an elegant five -
course dinner .emphasizing
the quality and taste of
locally reduced in redi-
. g
Good Selection Qf Used 4 x 4 SUVs & Trucks
starting at $9995! .
• That represents a savings of $27 off the
counter price.
SaIeprlceln:etfect ONLY
• at the Lucknow Sentinel office
Sept14to18
•
Friday, Sept: 18 at tair (evening)
• Saturday, Sept 19 (atter parade) at:fal
Phone calls accepted with MC or VISA it,