H1N1:where to go and when in the West Island

As several students in different West Island schools are staying home this week due to concerns they may have contracted the H1N1 flu, health authorities here are reminding everyone to keep calm.

"We cannot blame parents who want to vaccinate their children," said Suzanne Turmel, director-general of the West Island Health and Social Services Centre (WIHSSC), the public body which encompasses Lakeshore General Hospital as well as all clinics in the area.

"But we can't open (vaccination options) for everyone at the same time," she added.

For now, health care workers, paramedics, fire fighters, police officers, first-line workers and employees offering home care services are slated to get vaccinated first.

In the West Island, two schools, Allancroft in Beaconsfield and Spring Garden in Dollard des Ormeaux, are being set up as vaccination spots.

Once the aforementioned groups are vaccinated on Nov. 3, 4 and 5, parents of children under six months of age will be eligible for vaccination on the next day, according to a schedule posted on the WIHSSC's website. On that date, families of immune-suppressed people (those who cannot be vaccinated), and immune-suppressed people who can receive the vaccine will be eligible as well.

Three days later, on Nov. 9, pregnant women and children from six months to five years of age, along with their parents, may line up for their shots.

On November 16, anyone under 18 with chronic diseases of any sort may line up, and on November 23, anyone up to 65 with chronic diseases may join in as well. The remainder of the population may join up Dec. 7.

Parents concerned over their children's situation right now are advised to stay home unless all symptoms point to H1N1 flu, said Turmel.

This means fevers of over 38 degrees Celsius, sore throat, coughs, and dizziness.

"Only come to the emergency ward (at Lakeshore)," in that case, Turmel advised.

Turmel said the hospital emergency ward is already overflowing.

In at least once case, however, the mother of a child who seems to have met all the criteria turned her son away from the line-up after waiting for over two hours.

"He met all the criteria," said Pointe Claire resident Linda Osorio, a nurse of many years at the Brunswick Medical Centre clinic.

Osorio said she took her son to the emergency ward on Monday following guidelines from Info-Santé. There, she waited in line with him from 4:30 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. After being told by a receptionist she would have to wait even longer, "I left ER with my son and found the help I needed elsewhere," she said, alluding to the clinic where she works.

She said it appears likely that her son does indeed, have the flu, but that he is "doing better" and will stay home instead of attending his classes at St. Thomas High School, at least until Monday.

According to Turmel, some local clinics would soon be opened where parents who suspect their kids may have swine flu—but who do not meet all the above-mentioned criteria—may take them for testing. "We'll announce that information soon," Turmel said.

In the meantime, many local schools are reporting large numbers of absentee students. "Since Monday, we've had 1500 students who haven't come in," said Lester B. Pearson school board chairperson Marcus Tabachnick, in reference to four of the board's schools: the aforementioned St. Thomas High School, Clearpoint Elementary in Pointe Claire, Christmas Park and St. Edmunds' in Beaconsfield.

However, he also added that provincial regulations require schools to report as soon as 10 per cent of a student population in a single class, grade or entire school is absent. "A class in St. Edmund's has 3 students out of 25 missing," he said, but since that small number is over 10 per cent, it has to be reported.

He said Pearson has stepped up cleaning measures in all its schools since the first H1N1 epidemic hit last spring. "We're focusing on soap, running water, paper towels," he said.

He added that round-the-clock cleaning takes place in any areas that are frequently used, such as libraries, table tops in cafeterias, and bathrooms.

However, the board has left the decision of whether or not to install hand-sanitizing machines up to individual schools, since hand-sanitization gel is "controversial" due to containing alcohol, Tabachnick said.

"There have been cases of kids—not necessarily in our schools—ingesting the gel," he said.

He also admitted the school board is more concerned with children having allergies to alcohol getting exposed to it, rather than getting intoxicated.

Public schools are not the only ones affected. Kuper Academy in Kirkland has had about 200 absent students since the beginning of the week, and one confirmed case of H1N1 among its students, confirmed vice-principal Eric Casarotto.

For more information on H1N1, head to the following websites:

www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca

or

www.westislandhssc.qc.ca