Laurentians QC health authorities prepared for H1N1

Initial focus on priority groups only: CSSS

Dateline:

ARGENTEUIL

Justin Bromberg

The provincial health agency in the Laurentians region of Quebec is working closely with their local Health and Social Services Centres (CSSS) to provide additional clinic services in light of a second wave of influenza A (H1N1).

The Agence de la santé et des services sociaux des Laurentides (ASSL) recently unveiled its H1N1 preparatory measures at its last board meeting in late September.

Measures include extra storage of supplies and medical equipment, vaccines for the general population, and the creation of non-traditional consultation sites.

Meanwhile, the province launched its vaccination campaign this past Tuesday, October 27, beginning with health-care workers.

Vaccination centres in the Argenteuil region will open as of Tuesday, November 3, only to population groups whom are at a higher risk of developing complications. (See below for dates and locations.)

The groups are people under 65 with chronic medical or breathing conditions, children between six months and five years of age, people living in an isolated or remote community, and pregnant women. In addition, people living with children who are less than six months old should receive the vaccine (as the infants cannot), as well as people with weak immune systems.

The remainder of the general population is asked to stay home until their clinic dates are announced.

"Note that influenza A (H1N1) has a low mortality rate (about 0.1%)," the ASSL wrote in its press release, dated September 30. "However, some groups are at higher risk of complications and were targeted to receive the vaccine in its first sequence distribution."

The agency has also created a website, Pandémie Québec (Pandemic Quebec), to inform of upcoming dates. For more information, visit www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca or call 450-562-3761, extension 8530 (French) or 8560 (English).

Clinics for high-priority groups are at these locations on the following dates:

Carrefour Argenteuil

505, rue Béthanie (local 202), Lachute

(Access via door #3 near Bingo Horaire)

Wednesday, November 4 from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 5 from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 12 from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

CSSS d'Argenteuil in Grenville

93, rue des Erables, Brownsburg-Chatham

Tuesday, November 3, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Monday, November 9, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Centre Communautaire (Gore)