Public Health says there is no increased risk at city elementary school where two children have died because of the flu.
Chuck Ferguson, communications manager with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, confirmed a second death of a child recently was due to the flu.
Both victims attended Westminster Woods Public School in the city’s south end, but Ferguson said that does not mean there is an issue particular to that school.
“We’ve worked closely with the coroner and they’re not related. Nobody at that school is at a heightened risk. There’s no location-specific risk to the flu, it is covering all the communities in Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph,” he said.
“The risk of catching the flu is not particular to any school or any particular institution, it’s community-wide. Anybody that hasn’t had their flu shot, the best protection is to get it now,” Ferguson said.
He said parents from Westminster Woods have been very concerned “and we’ve been trying to reassure them that their children are not at any increased risk. They could get the flu in a classroom as easy as they could by going to the mall.”
Layna Vu Pollard, 12, died on Jan. 31, less than two days after showing flu symptoms. The second child that died has not been identified.
Meanwhile, Public Health is extending its public flu shot clinics after hundreds lined up for over an hour on Saturday to get immunized.
The public clinics, held at the health unit’s head office at 160 Chancellors Way, have been extended to Sunday from 10 am. To 3 p.m. and Monday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
People lined up patiently Saturday as up to 13 public health nurses immunized people at Saturday’s event.
The crowds, mostly adults accompanied by young children, were fuelled by the recent tragedies.
“I read what’s been going on in the news and it’s a little frightening, so I thought I’d come in today,” said John Macbeth, who had his three-year-old daughter in tow.
“You’d think in 2018 that’s not really a concern. It’s not the 1800s anymore,” said Macbeth.
Elizabeth Mulkins brought her son Owen Mulkins-Brown to get his shot.
“I receive an email from my son’s previous school giving an update on the situation and I realized he hadn’t had his flu shot yet this year,” said Mulkins.
“It wouldn’t have taken the tragedies to get us here, but we really appreciated the reaching out … I’m really thankful for that notice.”
She said she was willing to line up Saturday because “we made some calls and figured out that this was the best destination for us, because they were actually running out of flu shots in the south end.”
Ferguson said more vaccine has been ordered as clinics, doctors and pharmacies are running short.
“It is a tragedy for this community that two children died from the flu,” said medical officer f health and Public Health CEO Dr. Nicola Mercer in a news release.
“It is important for parents to know that there is not a greater risk of contracting the flu at any particular location. It is circulating throughout our community. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided extra vaccines so we can vaccinate as many people as possible. If you have not had your flu shot visit Public Health, your doctor or a local pharmacy.”
Public Health is continuing to emphasize that the flu shot is your best protection against getting the flu as it also protects vulnerable individuals such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions.
