A message to pregnant women; Unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine arrives in Halton

For pregnant women who chose to wait for unadjuvanted H1N1 flu vaccine, it will now be available at the H1N1 immunization clinic in Oakville at the Halton Regional Centre (1151 Bronte Road) starting Friday, November 6, 2009. Health officials want to emphasize that both the adjuvanted and unadjuvanted H1N1 flu vaccines are safe for pregnant women in all stages of pregnancy. The unadjuvanted vaccine will be available to pregnant women only and will only be offered at the H1N1 immunization clinic in Oakville or in physician offices.

“In Halton we are in the peak period of H1N1 activity in the community so many pregnant women in our region have already chosen to be immunized with the adjuvanted vaccine,” said Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal. “The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and other health experts have supported the position that both types of vaccine are safe for pregnant women and that individuals living in areas with high rates of H1N1 flu should get immunized as soon as possible with the adjuvanted or unadjuvanted vaccine.”

Pregnant women are not more likely to get the H1N1 flu virus than anyone else, but when they do get it, they are about five times more likely to be hospitalized and about three times more likely to have serious complications. The risk of serious complications due to the H1N1 virus exists in all trimesters of pregnancy and increases as pregnancy advances.

In addition to the Oakville H1N1 immunization clinic, pregnant women can contact their physician to find out if they are offering immunization with the unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine. Partners and children attending the Oakville clinic with pregnant women are encouraged to get their adjuvanted vaccine through the H1N1 Oakville clinic if they are in a high priority group.

Residents are advised to visit www.halton.ca or dial 311 prior to leaving for H1N1 clinics in Halton to ensure they have the most up-to-date clinic schedule. Clinics are for high priority groups only. The clinic schedule for the week of November 9 will be posted on www.halton.ca and available by dialing 311 as soon as new information becomes available.

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