Roll Up Your Sleeve and Arm Yourself with Knowledge to Stave Off H1N1

TORONTO , Nov. 2 /CNW/ - As H1N1 vaccination clinics open across the country, growing demand creates longer lines and greater delays. Many Canadians who have not opted for the annual flu shot are planning to be vaccinated for H1N1. Reports of healthy teens who have died from this flu strain have been a tipping point for a new wave of people who were initially uncertain about getting the shot.

Public health physician and author of the essential Canadian survival guide, The Flu Pandemic and You, Dr. Colin Lee says, "Public health officials are strongly encouraging all Canadians to get the H1N1 vaccine, but the reality is that it will take some time before the vaccine is in everyone's arms. Educating yourself about how you can stay healthy before, during and after the vaccination is an excellent defense against this influenza strain."

Co-authored by emergency physician Dr. Vincent Lam , The Flu Pandemic and You explains frankly and clearly how Canadians can assess their level of risk. Drawing on years of medical experience, Dr. Lee and Dr. Lam set out practical advice on how we can prepare for a pandemic and maximize our chances of surviving it. The Flu Pandemic and You develops a lucid framework to help people respond to the overwhelming media coverage of influenza in the context of our daily lives.

    
    Some suggested precautions worth considering through the pandemic include:

    -   Staying more than 1 metre away from people, which will decrease your
        risk of spreading or contracting influenza.
    -   Setting up online banking and shopping services.
    -   Looking into the possibility of working at home.
    -   If someone in your household contracts H1N1, dividing the home into
        different zones for those who are ill and not-ill to contain the
        spread.
    

This book suggests precautions to help Canadians minimize risk at home, in the workplace, at school, and everywhere in between. The authors write, "Choosing how to go about your daily life during a pandemic means striking a balance between an activity's risk of exposing you to influenza and whether that activity is essential for you."

The Flu Pandemic and You is published by Doubleday Canada .

For further information: or to order a copy please visit www.randomhouse.ca. Dr. Colin Lee is available for interviews. Media inquiries should be directed to: Adria Iwasutiak, Senior Publicist, Random House of Canada, [phone], [email protected]