September 29, 2006

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit are advising the public that due to a delay in the arrival of flu vaccine, clinics for this year will not be held until the second week of November, a month later than usual.  A confirmed schedule of community flu clinics will be available in mid October.   Those who normally go to their doctor should schedule their appointments after mid-November once the vaccine is ready for distribution.

Because of a global delay in production of the flu vaccine, the vaccine will not be available until as late as mid-November.  Local Health Units receive the vaccine and then distribute it to local long term care facilities, hospitals and physicians’ offices.   The first public clinics will be offered to high risk individuals (those over 65 and anyone with a chronic health condition).  Clinics for the remainder of the population will begin in mid November.

“Getting your flu vaccine is still very important.  This delay does not mean that there will be any shortage of vaccine.” explains Darlene Binette, Manager of Infectious Disease Programs at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “The delay means that we will start our first clinics at a later date, we will have more concentrated clinic events and these clinics may have higher volumes of people. We are trusting that everyone will be patient with the process.  Normally the influenza season does not start this early, so we are anticipating that all who want the vaccine will be immunized before influenza reaches our communities”.

The schedule of clinics will be confirmed once we get firm delivery information from the province.  As soon as schedules are finalized, the public will be notified.  Schedules will be posted online at www.tbdhu.com, distributed through pharmacies and local physicians’ offices and advertised in local papers.  A weekly schedule will also be available by calling the Flu Hot Line at 624-9082.

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