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Ontario Takes Additional Steps To Reduce H1N1 Transmission

Province Will Offer Vaccine To All Ontarians

October 21, 2009

Beginning the week of Oct. 26, adjuvanted H1N1 flu vaccine will be offered to all Ontarians that need and want it, starting with:

• People 65 and under with chronic conditions;
• Pregnant women;
• Healthy children 6 months to under five years of age;
• People living in remote or isolated communities;
• Health care workers; and
• Household contacts and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines.

Unadjuvanted vaccine will not be available until early November. All pregnant women with pre-existing health conditions and healthy pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy (more than 20 weeks) should speak to their health care provider about receiving the adjuvanted vaccine.  Healthy pregnant women in the first half of their pregnancy are at less risk of complications from the flu, and should wait to receive the unadjuvanted vaccine, when it is available. 

People age 10 and over will require one dose of the H1N1 vaccine for full immunity and children under 10 years old will require two-half doses, a minimum of 21 days apart.

On September 24, the province announced the rollout of its three-phased seasonal and H1N1 immunization program. A bilingual brochure started arriving in mailboxes across Ontario two weeks ago outlining who can be vaccinated and when their flu shots will be available.

As part of phase one, seasonal flu shots are currently being offered to people 65 and older, as well as residents of long-term care homes.  Phase two will immunize Ontarians against the H1N1 virus. During phase three, immunization against the seasonal flu will be offered to people under 65. The vaccines will be offered by public health units across the province.  

QUOTE

“An approved and safe H1N1 vaccine will soon be offered to Ontarians. I strongly encourage people in the priority groups to get their H1N1 flu shot first. Getting the H1N1 flu shot is the best way to stay protected and healthy this fall and winter.”
– Dr. Arlene King, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health

QUICK FACTS

• An adjuvant is a substance that is added to a vaccine in order to boost the individual's response. It also means that less of the virus or "antigen" is needed to make a dose of the vaccine. Unadjuvanted vaccine has no “immune boosting” element, and more antigen is needed to create this kind of vaccine.
• Adjuvants are made entirely from naturally-occurring ingredients such as oil, water and Vitamin E. Adjuvants can be found in many common vaccines. The adjuvant in the H1N1 vaccine has been tested with over 39,000 people around the world. 

LEARN MORE

Find out more about H1N1 flu in Ontario. 

Find your local public health unit.

Read the Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic.

Backgrounder :

• H1N1 Vaccine Delivery Logistics In Ontario

Members of the media :

Ivan Langrish, 416 326-3986
Minister's Office

David Jensen, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news