Flu Assessment Clinic numbers down: Hospital clinic to close Wednesday, Nov. 25

The flu assessment clinic at the Yarmouth hospital will close on Wednesday, Nov. 25 due to a drop in number of people showing up with flu symptoms.

However, if there is another increase in flu activity, South West Health says it will re-open the flu assessment clinic if needed.

If you have mild flu symptoms, the health district encourages people to stay home and take care of themselves. If symptoms become more serious, people are encouraged to contact a doctor or visit the Emergency Department to see if they may be a candidate for Tamiflu. In case of severe illness, call 911.



While the number of people with flu symptoms may be down, that does not mean the H1N1 flu is going away. For this reason, the health district says it is not yet lifting visitors restrictions at the hospital. Earlier this month the health district put restrictions in place limiting the number of visitors to just two per patient at its hospitals in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne.

“Since H1N1 is still active in the community, we are still limiting the number of visitors to just two per patient,” South West Health Spokesperson Fraser Mooney said on Tuesday. “Because babies and new mothers are still at a higher risk, we are being extra careful in our maternal child unit and we ask people to check at the nurses station before visiting.”

People are encouraged to get their flu shot and continue to wash hands and cover coughs, and stay away from the hospital if you have mild illness.



Meanwhile, community vaccination clinics are ongoing. This week they are being held at:

•Port Maitland Fire Hall…………..Tuesday, Nov 24, from 1 to 6 p.m.

•Saulnierville Legion…………….. Wednesday, Nov 25 from 1 to 6 p.m.

•West Pubnico Fire Hall..………..Thur. Nov 26 from 1 to 6 p.m. (NOTE: this is a change in location)

•Yarmouth Lions Club……………Friday, Nov 27 from 1 to 6 p.m.

•Shelburne Fire Hall………………Saturday, Nov 28 from 11 to 4 p.m.



Clinic hours may change on short notice based on vaccine supply. Some physicians are also giving flu shots to their patients. Call your doctor to check.



Remember to bring your health card to a vaccination clinic. Do not come to the vaccination clinic if you have flu symptoms.

For clinic updates, you can also visit: www.swndha.nshealth.ca

Late last Thursday afternoon the H1N1 vaccine became available to the entire Nova Scotia population. Prior to that it was only available to those in high-risk priority groups.

Last Friday South West Health immunized 260 people in Carleton. Over the weekend in Barrington 483 people immunized, which was the double the number of people seen a week earlier in Barrington.