Health network gets flu shot campaign underway
Roll up your sleeve, it’s time for your annual flu shot. The Montreal West Island health network (CIUSSS) launched its seasonal flu vaccination campaign Tuesday at Bob Birnie Arena in Pointe-Claire. The campaign for the West Island and Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle networks continues till Dec. 15 at various locations. “We’ll be at nine sites over a sixweek period,” said Nancy Lyons, head of health network’s flu vaccination program. “We go to sites near the population to be accessible because we want to be near our community.” Lyons said West Islanders are not shy about getting their flu shot. “In the West Island, we have a high level of participation with the population. Last year, we gave 32,000 vaccines against the flu. We had our the highest (participation) CIUSS in Montreal.” Lyons said people with chronic illnesses and those aged 75 and over, will be vaccinated free of charge. She said it is important to be vaccinated against the influenza virus. “First of all, you want to protect yourself. The other reason is protect others around you and those with chronic diseases. “If you have a chronic disease, you are more at risk to develop complications if you catch the flu,” Lyons said. “And you are more at risk to die from the flu so that’s why it’s very important to protect yourself against the flu, and to protect your family and the ones that you love.” Lyons said flu season, which typically hits hardest during winter months, can leave vulnerable people at risk of hospitalization.
Vaccination is offered free of charge to: Anyone over the age of six months with a chronic condition, including pregnant women (anytime during pregnancy); Healthy pregnant women in their second or third trimester; People aged 75 years and over Informal caregivers and those living with people in the above-mentioned groups; People living with children aged six months and under; Healthcare workers. Two groups have been removed from the list this year: Healthy children aged 6 to 23 months, and healthy people between the ages of 60 and 74 because they present a low risk of developing flu-related complications. However, upon request, people in those two groups may still get the vaccine for free. As Lyons pointed out: “We’re going accept everyone at the flu vaccination sites. So we won’t refuse anyone.”
Here is vaccination schedule for the West Island: Nov. 6–10, Bob Birnie Arena: 58 Maywood Ave., Pointe-Claire. Nov. 13–17, Chalet ArthurSéguin: 365 St-Louis Ave., PointeClaire Nov. 20–24, East Community Centre: 9665 Gouin Blvd., Pierrefonds. Nov. 27-Dec. 1, and Dec. 4–8, Dollard Civic Centre: 12,001 de Salaberry Blvd., Dollard-desOrmeaux. Dec. 11–15, Herb Linder Annex: 303 Beaconsfield Blvd., Beaconsfield.
Here is the schedule for Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle:
Nov. 13-15, CEGEP André-Laurendeau: 1111 rue Lapierre, LaSalle. Nov. 23-24, Sarto-Desnoyers Community Centre: 1335 Lakeshore Dr., Dorval. Nov. 27-Dec. 1, Centre sportif Dollard St. Laurent: 707 75th Ave., LaSalle. Dec. 12-15, Old Lachine Hospital: 3320 Notre-Dame St., Lachine. All vaccination clinics are open Tuesday to Friday, from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info on vaccination clinics, consult the CIUSSS website.