By Neale McDevitt
McGill deepened its commitment to helping the University community avoid H1N1 influenza by hosting a vaccination clinic in the Brown Student Services Building on Dec. 14-15.
The clinic was opened in order to facilitate access to the vaccination for all McGill students, faculty and staff. And while other clinics in Montreal and around the province have been reporting dwindling numbers of people getting vaccinated, the McGill clinic showed the demand is still very high.
In all, 1,360 McGillians received the H1N1 vaccination over the two-day period – significantly more than was anticipated by the Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Montagne.
Despite having to turn away some people when supplies of the vaccine ran out, Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier, Director, Student Health Services, was very pleased with the end result – especially seeing that McGill only received the OK to host the clinic a few days before doors opened to the public.
“We were somewhat taken aback by the number of people who came to be immunized,” said Dr. Tellier. “Of course, not as much as the CSSS de la Montagne which thought that we would do only a couple of hundred of people a day.
“I am extremely proud of the Student Health Staff who were able to get this organized in two days. They also worked very efficiently during the vaccination clinics.”
The Quebec government is closing its own vaccination clinics on Dec. 18, but the vaccine will sill be available through CLSCs for anyone who wants it.
To learn more about the H1N1 influenza and the vaccine you can view a five minute video and find other resources at www.mcgill.ca/health