NEWS RELEASE
HALTON HEALTHCARE
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Halton Healthcare’s first-ever regional Paediatric RSV Immunization clinic is about to formally shut for the season on January 23, 2025, after immunizing 500 infants in opposition to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a extremely contagious virus that results in 30 to 40 per cent of paediatric hospitalizations.
The clinic was a collaborative initiative by Halton Healthcare, the Related Care Halton Ontario Well being Crew, Halton Area Public Well being, and Main Care Physicians to help the Ministry of Well being’s (MOH) new common toddler RSV prevention program. This seasonal clinic, held at Milton District Hospital, supplied households with handy entry to RSV immunizations for infants and high-risk toddlers and was the one one in all its variety within the Area.
Underneath the Ministry’s new program, all newborns and infants born after January 1, 2024, grew to become eligible free of charge immunizations, alongside high-risk toddlers underneath the age of two. Beforehand, free immunizations had been solely out there to high-risk infants or untimely infants.
The clinic was launched to immunize infants born from January to November 2024 in preparation for his or her first RSV season within the fall and winter months. Infants born in November and onward obtain immunization earlier than hospital discharge. Immunization helps to enhance the well being and well-being of our youngest group members by defending susceptible infants from extreme lung infections, ER visits and admissions.
“We are extremely proud to have been part of this initiative and thank everyone who made this clinic so successful,” stated Cheryl Hoare, Program Director, Ladies and Kids. “Together with the Connected Care Ontario Health Team, Halton Region Public Health, and Primary Care, we have been able to protect the tiniest members of our community and ease the burden on our healthcare system. We are incredibly proud of what this initiative has achieved.”
Though the clinic is closing, RSV immunizations stay out there by major care suppliers and in hospital, to newborns.
For extra details about the RSV immunizations and healthcare choices, please go to https://www.haltonhealthcare.on.ca/paediatric-rsv-immunization.
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