February 4, 2010 - Grade 5 students from Woodcrest School showed off their song-writing talents today by performing their “H1N1 Song” to representatives from the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

Working with local musician Rodney Brown and teacher Lorraine Quinn-Patterson, the class crafted a catchy tune which tracks the history of the H1N1 virus and features flu prevention messages.

Quinn-Patterson was surprised when the students selected H1N1 as the topic for the music project, but is proud of their efforts.  “The students were knowledgeable about the topic and did their research to make sure the lyrics were in line with the key flu prevention messages,” she said.

Although H1N1 activity is no longer being reported in the District, flu season doesn’t typically end until April. The Public Health Agency of Canada is advising the public to remain vigilant as both the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu strains are still circulating in some communities.

“This song is timely since we’re still in flu season,” said Jamie Dicasmiro, the school’s public health nurse. 

“This project is an excellent example of how schools can provide students with the opportunity to learn important health messages in innovative and fun ways, outside of a traditional health class.”

In 2009, 30,000 H1N1 immunizations were given to people in the Thunder Bay District by the Health Unit. This is the largest number administered by the Health Unit during any flu season since the universal (free) flu program was launched in 2000. Since that time, Health Unit flu clinics usually immunize 15-18,000 people annually against the flu. In addition, the Health Unit estimates that approximately 15,000 additional H1N1 flu shots were given by local health care professionals in the fall of 2009.

Both flu shots are still available to the public from their health care provider or at the Health Unit’s weekly Wednesday walk-in clinic held at 999 Balmoral from 1:30-6:00 p.m. For more information, the public can call the Health Unit at 625-5971.

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