Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit

For the 2012/2013 influenza season, the Health Unit will be offering influenza immunization clinics throughout Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

To view our clinics schedule please click here.

Each year there is a new vaccine to protect against new strains of the influenza virus. The publicly funded seasonal influenza vaccines marketed in Canada for the 2012-2013 season contains the three World Health Organization - recommended antigenic strains:

2009 pandemic influenza A strain: A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like strain;
A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like strain; and
B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like strain.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends the following groups of individuals receive their annual influenza immunization.

Recommended recipients of influenza vaccine for the 2012-2013 season

People at high risk of influenza-related complications or hospitalization
• Adults (including pregnant women) and children with the following chronic health conditions:
cardiac or pulmonary disorders (including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis and asthma);

diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases;
cancer, immune compromising conditions (due to underlying disease and/or therapy);
renal disease;
anemia or hemoglobinopathy;
conditions that compromise the management of respiratory secretions and are associated with an increased risk of aspiration;
morbid obesity (BMI≥40); and
children and adolescents with conditions treated for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid.

• People of any age who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities.
• People ≥65 years of age.
• Healthy children 6 to 59 months of age.
• Healthy pregnant women (the risk of influenza-related hospitalization increases with length of gestation, i.e. it is higher in the third than in the second trimester)
• Aboriginal peoples.

People capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk
• Health care and other care providers in facilities and community settings who, through their activities, are capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk of influenza complications.
• Household contacts (adults and children) of individuals at high risk of influenza-related complications (whether or not the individual at high risk has been immunized):

household contacts of individuals at high risk, as listed in the section above;
household contacts of infants <6 months of age as these infants are at high risk of complications from influenza but cannot receive influenza vaccine; and
members of a household expecting a newborn during the influenza season.

• Those providing regular child care to children <59 months of age, whether in or out of the home.
• Those who provide services within closed or relatively closed settings to persons at high risk (e.g. crew on a ship).

Others
• People who provide essential community services.
• People in direct contact during culling operations with poultry infected with avian influenza.

*Note: Healthy persons aged 2 to 64 years without contraindication are also encouraged to receive influenza vaccine even if they are not in one of the priority groups.

The vaccine is available, free of charge to people six months of age and older who live, work or attend school in Ontario.

Influenza vaccine and regular hand washing provide the best protection for yourself and others against the influenza virus.

Related Links:

Influenza Immunization Community Clinics 2012

Seasonal Flu

Other Resources:

Influenza Immunization - THE FLU SHOT

Hand Hygiene Resources