Quick update on H1N1 vaccines in Toronto, especially midtown Toronto

I realize this is very specific, but better more (good) information than less. I received this from my councillor:

This is to advise you that the City’s Public Health Department will be holding H1N1 vaccination clinics for 6 weeks, starting Monday November 2nd.  Public Health has designated the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Avenue West , as one of the clinic locations.

Toronto Public Health has just announced that the H1N1 vaccination clinics to be held next week will be open to members of priority groups only. This restriction of the vaccine has been mandated by the provincial Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.  This measure ensures that those people most at risk of serious illness will get their vaccine.  Public Health is asking healthy people who are not in the priority groups to be patient and to not attend these clinics.

The priority groups include:

pregnant women;
children 6 months to 5 years;
people under 65 with chronic conditions;
people who live with or care for infants under 6 months old and immuno-compromised people; and
health care workers.

For the first two weeks, the vaccine clinic hours will be:

Monday, November 2nd – Friday, November 6th, from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. AND Saturday, November 7th, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. <For Priority Groups Only>

Tuesday, November 10th – Friday, November 13th, from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. AND Saturday, November 14th, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. <For the General Public>

Please note, for the first few weeks Public Health is anticipating that a large volume of people will be visiting the clinic so please expect delays.  There are vending machines (drinks only) at the Community Centre but no food is available in close proximity.

We are doing what we can to manage the situation but please keep in mind that parking is limited at the Community Centre.  Therefore, we are asking people to use public transit or carpool.  Your patience would be appreciated as there will be increased traffic and a higher volume of cars parked on nearby side streets for the next 6 weeks.

For more information on other clinic locations or the H1N1 flu virus, please visit the City’s website at http://www.toronto.ca/health/cdc/h1n1/index.htm

I would highly recommend that anyone wanting more information on this go to a more authoritative source, such as your doctor. Or visit the City of Toronto’s web site on H1N1